A Government TD has claimed that schools in Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton’s home county were given “priority” in a €1.6 billion investment package.
On Wednesday, the Government announced a list of 105 school construction projects that will go to tender or construction this year and in 2027.
The projects combined are set to deliver some 27,000 “additional and modernised” school places.
The Department of Education later defended how the projects were chosen after Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne highlighted there was one school in Co Wexford and three in Co Wicklow included in the list, “but 10 in the Minister’s home county of Galway”.
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“I’m looking at schools like Bunclody Community College who’ve been waiting years and they’re not being included in the list,” he told The Irish Times. “I don’t know what the criteria is that’s being used, but if you’re from the Minister’s home county, that seems to be getting priority.”.
The €1.6 billion investment figure represents the first tranche of an overall €7.55 billion education package under the National Development Plan (NDP).
Mr Byrne added: “I get every school can’t go ahead at the same time, butthe criteria is not clear . . . My argument is that decisions should be on the basis of need. I do find this rather bizarre. Why are 10 per cent of the schools in Co Galway?”
Labour Party education spokesman Eoghan Kenny also pointed to the number of projects in Galway and called on Ms Naughton to explain how schools were selected for inclusion on the priority list of projects. He claimed: “Many schools in other parts of the country, including those facing severe capacity pressures, have been excluded entirely.”
The Department of Education responded with a statement saying the criteria for identifying the 105 prioritised projects “included the condition of the school, projects in areas with capacity pressures, growing demographics and projects in the pipeline for a long time.”
It added: “It should also be noted that as one of the larger counties, Galway has a significant number of schools and includes a city and town areas experiencing demographic growth. Other areas experiencing demographic pressures include Kildare, Cork and Dublin.”
The list of 105 projects to be covered by the first tranche of funding includes 20 in Dublin and 12 in both Cork and Kildare. There are six projects in both Louth and Meath and five in Limerick. There are no projects listed for Cavan, Mayo, Sligo or Westmeath.
Of the 10 school projects in Galway, four are in Ms Naughton’s Galway West constituency.
Ms Naughton, a Fine Gael TD, announced the NDP investment plans at Powerstown Educate Together National School in Dublin.
At the announcement, she was asked about 10 of the projects being located in Co Galway.
“There are a number of counties where there is a large number of schools listed,” she replied.
“For example, in Kildare, which would be a large commuter area. The population is increasing there.
“There is ongoing demand in these areas in relation to the 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 [of Education] and are really under pressure in those specific areas.
“This work is ongoing,” she said, adding that “it’s a rolling document right out to 2030” .
Ms Naughton said her department will be carrying out work on the condition of all schools across the country and looking at existing capacity and how the demographics may change out to 2030.
“So some others will be added to that list in time as well.”
Of the NDP investment plan, she said: “This is a significant investment by Government into our education system ensuring that children right across the country have access to state-of-the-art facilities.” Ms Naughton said “delivering for children with special education needs will be a particular priority during the 2026 to 2030 NDP period”.
