Minister’s new school pledge completely misleading, Labour says

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

A minister’s pledge to deliver a “significant number of brand new schools” is “completely misleading”, according to Labour.

Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton and Finance Minister Jack Chambers announced details of a €7.55 billion sectoral investment strategy under the National Development Plan to 2030.

Some 105 projects are listed as priorities for this year and next, accounting for more than €1.6 billion in investment and 27,000 “additional and modernised” school places.

Among these projects, Ms Naughton said: “There will be 80 large-scale extensions to schools, and then 25 modular projects as well.”

Speaking to reporters at Powerstown Educate Together National School, she said a “significant number” would be “brand new schools that did not exist before”.

However, Labour spokesman Eoghan Kenny said Ms Naughton was being “completely misleading”.

He told the Press Association: “There isn’t a significant number of brand new builds. The majority are extensions or buildings for those currently in not-fit-for-purpose accommodation.”

The 31 priority projects for a “new school building” on the priority list refer to either the construction of a building for an existing school which is currently without permanent accommodation, or the replacement of an existing school whose infrastructure is no longer adequate.

Mr Kenny said other schools facing severe capacity pressures have been “excluded entirely” from the Department of Education’s priority list.

He said these schools are now in “limbo” about whether they will even reach tender stage until 2028 at the earliest.

Mr Kenny said it is “impossible to ignore” that 10 of the projects, or nearly 10% of the total, are in the minister’s home county of Galway.

He accused the minister of “politicising” school building and said infrastructure should be delivered based on need.

“The minister cannot play politics with school building projects. Decisions about school infrastructure must be based on need, demographic pressure and educational outcomes, not constituency boundaries or political advantage.

“These decisions directly affect children’s learning environments and the working conditions of school staff, and must be treated with the seriousness they deserve.”

He added: “There will be deep disappointment and anger in school communities across the country.

“Principals and boards of management are under extraordinary strain trying to accommodate children for September in overcrowded and unsuitable buildings.

“Teachers and special needs assistants are being asked to work in conditions that fall far short of what is acceptable.”

Asked about the number of projects in Galway, Ms Naughton said: “There are a number of counties where there’s a large number of schools listed, for example, in Kildare, which would be a large commuter area and the population is increasing there.

“There’s been ongoing demand in these areas in relation to demographics and these are decisions that we have to make around projects that maybe have got planning permission, have had a lot of engagement with the department, and are [in areas that are] really under pressure.”