Schools Building Projects

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for choosing this Topical Issue. It is a matter close to my heart. It is my local school and my former primary school that I attended until 1987, and I thank the Minister for attending here this morning in person. I acknowledge that Scoil Mhuire was one of 105 schools on the list of priority school buildings for the years 2026-27 as part of the €1.6 billion investment for this initial tranche published in January of this year. I thank the Minister for her involvement in this and for including Scoil Mhuire, Maigh Cuilinn ar an liosta. At present, there are 383 pupils enrolled in Scoil Mhuire. There are 24 teachers, seven special needs assistants and an administrative principal, Terry Kavanagh. I acknowledge Mr. Kavanagh's work and that of the board of management and I thank previous boards of management for their dedication on this project over the years. The brief of this project is the demolition of the existing and original single-storey building and the development of a new 16-classroom primary school with two classrooms for pupils with special educational needs at the current though enlarged site in Moycullen. Tréaslaím an obair atá déanta ag an Aire, an Teachta Naughton, an príomhoide, Terry Kavanagh, agus an bord bainistíochta. Tá Scoil Mhuire ar cheann de na 105 scoil ar an liosta a d’fhoilsigh an tAire i mí Eanáir. Teastaíonn scoil nua go géar. Tá 383 dalta ag freastal ar an scoil faoi láthair. I measc na foirne, tá 24 múinteoir, seacht cúntóir riachtanas speisialta agus an príomhoide riaracháin. Tá an bord bainistíochta ag lorg scoil nua ina mbeidh 16 rang agus dhá sheomra oideachais speisialta. Tá cead pleanála ag an mbord bainistíochta agus an deoise. Tá an scoil ar an liosta tosaíochta. Cad is cúis leis an moill? The diocese and the board of management have planning permission for this school. They have had it for a period of time. It has appeared on a number of lists, including, thanks to the Minister, the list of 105 schools that was published in January of this year in this initial tranche. I have raised this on numerous occasions in this House and the other House and I have every confidence that this will be the last time that I will have to raise this school project. As I said, it is a project that is very close to my heart. It is on the priority list of 105 schools. The present facilities are not good enough. There is a great standard of education and it is a great school, but there are a lot prefabs. It is a single-storey building. It needs to be demolished and upgraded. Where are we at and what is the delay?

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the new school building for Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen, County Galway. At the outset, I would like to state that the delivery of this new school building is a significant priority for me and my Department and I know this is school in the Moycullen area is close to the Deputy's heart. The brief for this major project is to provide a new 16-classroom primary school with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs at the existing site in Moycullen. The board of management has acquired additional land to accommodate the new build. This project is included in my Department's NDP implementation plan and is part of a first tranche of 105 prioritised schools to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. I expect Scoil Mhuire to go to tender in the coming weeks. As we both know, and the Deputy knows very well, Moycullen is part of the Galway city commuter belt and continues to experience strong population growth due to its proximity to the city and the attractiveness of that area as a residential location for many commuting families. The project supports the Department's objective to ensure sufficient school places in areas of population growth. The additional capacity will allow the school to accommodate projected demographic growth while providing a high-quality environment for teaching and learning. The project for Scoil Mhuire is being delivered as part of the Department's ADAPT programme. The ADAPT programme uses a professional external project manager to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of architectural planning to tender and construction. The project is at the completion of stage 2B of the architectural design process. Stage 2B involves detailed design, securing all statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documentation. Planning permission was secured in May 2023. As I said previously, this project is expected to progress to tender in the coming weeks. I have visited the school, so I know the fantastic work that is happening there in teaching and learning, as well as the need for a new school. I know the work that Deputy Kyne has put into this, given that it is his local school. We look forward to seeing progress on this over the coming weeks. Since 2020, the Department of education has provided over €283 million in capital funding for Galway schools. Over this period, a total of 98 schools have been upgraded through the provision of either a new school building, extension, modular accommodation or climate pathfinder projects. Ten school projects to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the national development plan implementation plan, including Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen. Since 2020, a total of 111 special classes have been sanctioned in Galway, of which 33 were sanctioned this September.

I thank the Minister for the response and for the excellent news that this project will go to tender in the coming weeks. I take it, therefore, that the Minister has engaged with the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, and that this project has been or is ready to be sanctioned by the Department of public expenditure. I acknowledge the progress with other schools as well. We were out yesterday at Coláiste Cholmcille in Indreabhán ag casadh an fhóid - turning the sod - on that extension. Work is also going ahead at Clifden Community School, which is also on the list. Therefore, three schools that were on that list have seen substantial progress. It is great news that this project will go to tender in the coming weeks. If the Minister could be more specific on the date, it would be great. I know the principal and board management will be anxiously awaiting a letter from the Minister’s staff and the Department in relation to the official sanction to go to tender. That will take some time, of course, but I am very happy to hear this news. The school has been delivered under the ADAPT scheme, which is a devolved scheme. It is important to acknowledge the work of the principal and board of management. This is good news for Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen. Is é an dea-scéal ná go bhfuil an tAire ag rá go mbeidh an scoil ag dul go dtí an chéad chéim eile i gceann cúpla seachtain agus go mbeidh sí in ann dul amach ag lorg tairiscintí. Cuirim fáilte roimh an dea-scéal sin. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire.

I also acknowledge the hard work that the board of management and all the school team have put into this project. As I said, it is expected to proceed to tender shortly. In relation to engagement with the Department of public expenditure and reform, all school building projects that are over €10 million must be submitted to the Department of public expenditure and reform for its approval before proceeding to tender. This is one of a number of projects currently under review by the Department of public expenditure and reform. Our engagement has been positive and, as I said, I would expect this to go to tender in the next few weeks. We will keep Deputy Kyne updated on the matter. I thank him for raising it.