Schools Building Projects
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-26
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Alan Dillon (FG), Mayo

I again thank Deputy O’Rourke for bringing this important matter to the floor of the Dáil. I certainly agree with him regarding the time dependency relating to this project. I will take the points he has raised back to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, in the context of her consideration of the needs of Dunboyne junior and senior national schools and ask that they be considered as part of the ongoing Department-led prioritisation process. The consultation with the school patron and the school authority will continue.
Notwithstanding that, any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the Department on a case-by-case basis. This project certainly deserves merit in that regard, particularly if it is at stage 2b and planning permission is already in place. The level of need has been identified, but there is then the prioritisation need and the approach the Department has taken in selecting the initial projects to progress. It is no different in County Mayo. Many schools there were not selected. I am sure many other Deputies would reflect the same situation in their constituencies. It is certainly reflected in the number of education Topical Issue matters that have been raised today. I will take the points raised by the Deputy back to the Minister.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:47+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-26