Four schools in Offaly set to benefit as part of Government's School Building Programme

Four schools in Offaly are set to benefit under the first tranche of the Government’s School Building Programme as part of the National Development Plan.

The announcement follows the publication of the €7.55 Billion Education and Youth Sectoral Investment Plan for the 2026 to 2030 period, by Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton.

The first tranche of the plan will see projects progress to tender and/or construction during 2026 and 2027, with a strong focus on meeting urgent capacity needs and supporting special education.

The School Building Programme is expected to support local communities, improve learning environments and ensure that Offaly’s education infrastructure is fit for the future.

The Offaly schools included in the first tranche are St Brendan’s Community School, Birr, and Scoil Shinchill National School, Killeigh which will both receive an additional accommodation scheme extension, Durrow National School, which will receive a modular extension and the Offaly School of Special Education, which will be delivered as a large-scale new school building.

Offaly Fine Gael TD John Clendennen said the investment would make a real difference for students, teachers and families across the county.

"This is very positive news for Offaly. These projects will deliver additional classroom capacity, improved facilities and enhanced supports for students with special educational needs."

He continued: "The new Offaly School of Special Education, in particular, will be hugely important for families right across the county and is overdue in terms of the current need."

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Also speaking following the announcement, Offaly TD Tony McCormack said the investment represents a major boost for education infrastructure in Offaly.

He stated: "This funding will make a real difference to students, teachers and families across the county. These projects address both immediate accommodation pressures and long-term planning, particularly in the area of special education, which is a growing priority."

Deputy McCormack also acknowledged the role of local representatives in progressing the applications. 

"This has been a collaborative effort involving school principals, boards of management and local councillors. I want to thank everyone who worked together to ensure Offaly’s needs were clearly communicated and prioritised."

Deputy McCormack said he will continue to engage with the Department of Education to ensure projects move swiftly through the next stages.

Independent TD Carol Nolan also welcomed the announcement for the planned works at the Offaly schools.

However, she reflected that she previously highlighted in October of last year, her concerns that projects for St. Brendan’s, which were initially approved in 2018, could not be authorised until the Department of Education's NDP implementation programme was published.

Deputy Nolan also repeatedly highlighted the urgent need for approval of major works at the Offaly Special of Education, having facilitated an Oireachtas briefing on issues impacting special schools in 2025.

With these past experiences in mind, Carol Nolan TD said she wants to see action on the projects rather than just words.

She commented: "I think the most important thing now is that the schools see actual delivery. Their inclusion in the NDP is fantastic but we are really beyond the point where we need to see shovels in the ground and works brought to completion. Announcements are welcome, but delivery is what counts."

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Nationally, the first tranche includes one hundred and five projects, with an investment of over €1.6 Billion, and will deliver 27,000 additional and modernised school places. This is alongside the completion of almost three hundred school projects already under construction nationwide.

The developments form part of the Government’s wider National Development Plan for education, which places a strong emphasis on expanding capacity, modernising facilities and ensuring appropriate provision for students with additional needs.

The wider investment plan is due to provide greater certainty for schools, through improved clarity around minor works and ICT grant payments, and increased support for maintaining existing school buildings.

Deputy John Clendennen also acknowledged that a number of schools in Offaly have not been included in the first tranche.

"I have visited many schools across the county and seen first-hand the challenges with real and pressing needs that have not been successful at this stage. This announcement is not the end of the process.

He concluded: "I will continue to work closely with Minister Naughton and the Department to make the case for those schools to be supported in future tranches of funding."