Government targets 2027 for next tranche of school building tenders
Friday 17 July 2026
The Department of Education is targeting 2027 to publish its next tranche of priority school building projects allowed to proceed to tender.
The Department of Education is targeting 2027 for the publication of the next tranche of priority school building projects permitted to proceed to tender, Minister Hildegarde Naughton has confirmed.
Speaking in the Dáil, Minister Naughton outlined that projects must be at an appropriate stage of readiness to be considered for the next phase. Prioritisation will be guided by departmental analysis, engagement with schools and patrons, available funding, and findings from the school estate energy and condition survey.
Current Project Pipeline
The Minister detailed the status of school infrastructure projects in the Dublin Mid-West constituency, noting that eight projects are currently onsite. These include new school buildings for:
- Coláiste Pobail Fola
- Gaelscoil na Camóige
- Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin
- Holy Family Community School
Additionally, Gaelscoil Lír was substantially completed and handed over to the school in July 2026.
A further four projects are currently at the tender stage, comprising a new school building for Scoil Chrónáin and deep energy retrofit works at Coláiste Bríde, Deansrath Community College, and Collinstown Park Community College.
Design Stages and Planning Concerns
There are 20 large-scale and additional accommodation projects progressing through the design pipeline, categorised as:
- Ten projects at preliminary design (stage 1)
- One project at developed design (stage 2a)
- Nine projects at detailed design (stage 2b)
One of the stage 2b projects, a new school building for Adamstown Castle Educate Together National School, was included in the priority tranche of projects published in January as part of the National Development Plan (NDP) roll-out. Another 12 projects are being progressed under the modular programme and the climate action summer works scheme.
During the debate, Deputy Shane Moynihan raised concerns regarding potential planning permission expiry at Scoil Chrónáin in Rathcoole. The proposed project involves a new 16-classroom primary school with accommodation for two special educational needs classrooms.
Minister Naughton confirmed that the project progressed to tender on 25 February 2025, but the preferred tenderer subsequently withdrew. The Department’s design team is conducting due diligence on the next placed tender. Minister Naughton stated that the Department will prepare documentation to apply for an extension of the planning permission for the Scoil Chrónáin project if it becomes necessary.