Dublin Bay North TD’s Tom Brabazon and Barry Heneghan have welcomed news that the permanent school building for Gaelcholáiste Reachrann will begin construction later this year.
Fianna Fáil TD Brabazon said that parents and students alike have been waiting “too long” for the building, but this week, Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton confirmed that a Q4 of 2026 start date is now on the table.
The school building project will cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 600 students with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs.
She acknowledged that the project has been “a long time in development,” with the approval being granted all the way back in February 2013 (or, three governments ago).
Brabazon said it was a “great shame” that the project is only gaining momentum now.
The Dublin Bay North TD said that students who began their second-level education with the promise of a new school ended up having the same education experience of past students.
“They went through the education system in old prefabs that were broken and cold,” the told the Dáil.
“Those students have now completed their education; this is not good enough.”
Minister Naughton said that getting shovels in the ground was a “priority” for her and her Department.
Minister Naughton touted the government’s record on improving education infrastructure, saing “since 2020, the Department of Education has provided over €2 billion in capital funding for Dublin schools.”
“Over this period, a total of 300 schools have been upgraded through provision of either a new school building, extension, modular accommodation or climate pathfinder projects.”
However, statistics do not change the reality for staff and students at the Northside school.
Independent TD Heneghan said that the progress is “very welcome news.”
“I greatly appreciate Minister Naughton’s continued engagement and her recognition of just how important and urgent this project is for the school and the wider Donaghmede community,” he said.
Heneghan said, “after such a long wait, the focus now has to be on getting construction underway within the timeframe outlined. The timeline has already moved, so it is important that Q4 is now delivered upon and that the school community is given the certainty it deserves.”
“I will continue to pursue this closely and do everything I can to ensure there are no further unnecessary delays.”