Schools Building Projects

97. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the proposed new school building for a school (details supplied); the current status and timeline for the project; and the extent to which the proposed relocation of the school to Dangan would facilitate the release of the existing Nun’s Island campus for the future expansion of University of Galway. [74719/26]

I seek an update on the progress of the school building project at St. Joseph's Patrician College, better known as the Bish, in Galway city and when it will move to the next stage.

The school building project for St. Joseph's Patrician College, the Bish, in Galway represents an important element of the Department of Education and Youth's overall building programme. This project is devolved to the Le Chéile Schools Trust for delivery. The project will deliver a new purpose-built school building on a new site to accommodate a long-term projected enrolment of over 1,000 post-primary students and will include the provision of four special education classrooms. The project is currently at stage 2B, the detailed design stage. Following confirmation of planning permission in December 2024, the stage 2B support was submitted to the Department in April 2026. The report is undergoing a detailed technical and cost review in line with infrastructure guidelines. This month, Department officials contacted the school to advise that the project remains under review in the context of the national development plan parameters and the overall prioritisation of capital investment. It is expected that the next tranche of projects to proceed to tender will be published in 2027. Prioritisation will continue over the coming months to identify this next tranche of projects. This will be informed by the latest available demographic and capacity data and the Department's energy and condition inventory, the validation of which is due to be completed by early 2027. The project for the Bish will be considered as part of the prioritisation process along with other projects that are at the required stage of readiness. The new site for the development is part of a land-swap arrangement with the University of Galway. The future use of the existing Nun's Island campus is a matter for the school authorities and relevant stakeholders. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of this project. I assure him of the continued commitment of the Department of Education and Youth to advancing investment in school infrastructure, including in Galway.

I hope that the Bish can progress to the 2027 tranche of schools to go to construction. It is imperative. It is planned for a 1,000-pupil school. The redevelopment will be on a site at Dangan. The school has planning permission. It is very important in terms of catchment in Galway city where there are pressures on capacity. It is important that we progress the Bish school project. They were very disappointed that it was not on the original list of schools. I will continue to work with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to ensure that it is delivered, and that the project is progressed to the tender and construction stage from 2027 onwards.

I think that I answered the Deputy's previous question on this as well. I assure the Deputy that both I and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, are acutely aware of it. There has been engagement with the school authorities. This is a huge investment in education within Galway. I know that Department officials have been in contact with the school in relation to a few issues, but we are moving forward with it, and it will be considered in the next tranche which will be some time in 2027. It is a huge investment in education right across Galway. I can assure the Deputy that we are working on it, and Department officials are liaising very closely with the school authorities on the next stages for this development.