Fine Gael TDs defend minister after Fianna Fáil criticism over schools investment

Education minister Hildegarde Naughton at the launch of the National Development Plan  in Dublin on Wednesday. Picture: Leon Farrell

Fine Gael TDs have defended education minister Hildegarde Naughton after a Fianna Fáil backbencher suggested schools in her constituency were prioritised for new investment.

Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne said he would not apologise for “representing schools within my constituency”, while questioning the criteria to select projects to prioritise.

Ms Naughton, a TD for Galway West, rejected assertions that her home county, which had 10 schools listed among 105 projects for 2026-27, was being overly prioritised.

“There are a number of counties where there is a large number of schools listed,” Ms Naughton said.

"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. It’s a rolling document right out to 2030."

The National Development Plan, launched on Wednesday, provides €7.55bn worth of capital funding for education between 2026 and 2030.

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire Barry Ward said if Mr Byrne was suggesting schools had been moved down the list to prioritise Galway schools, this was incorrect.

“This is just political point-scoring,” Mr Ward said, adding that Mr Byrne should not have raised the matter in the media.

“The minister is not going to respond to public commentary.”

He said TDs should instead seek to engage privately with ministers.

In response, Mr Byrne said Mr Ward would have raised concerns with Ms Naughton if no school projects in Dun Laoghaire were prioritised. 

'Maybe we should do it more'

Multiple Fine Gael TDs privately criticised Mr Byrne’s approach, saying Fianna Fáil often takes aim at Fine Gael ministers in public.

One cited the previous criticism of Helen McEntee by Fianna Fáil backbenchers during her time as minister for justice, claiming she got “terrible abuse”.

“Maybe we should do it more [to Fianna Fáil ministers],” they said, citing housing minister James Browne as a potential target.

Meanwhile, another Fine Gael TD said Fianna Fáil's Norma Foley had “politicised” the announcement of school upgrades during her time as education minister.

They said Ms Foley had “overcommitted” to projects, meaning there was a lack of capacity at the Planning and Building Unit in the Department of Education.