Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

On behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin, I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science on Gaelscoil Cill Dara and Newbridge Educate Together.

A major building project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning for the provision of a 16-classroom school for Newbridge Educate Together national school. A project to provide additional classrooms at Gaelscoil Cill Dara is also at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Stage 3, developed sketch scheme, of architectural planning is under review in the Department and expected to be completed shortly.

With regard to the Deputy's questions on traffic control at the school, the position is that following a pre-planning discussion between the design team and officials from the roads section of Kildare County Council, it was confirmed that a traffic impact assessment was not necessary. During this discussion Kildare County Council suggested alterations to the scheme to take account of traffic requirements and these have been incorporated into the design of the scheme. The council granted planning permission for the prepared scheme which has subsequently been appealed to An Bord Pleanála. The Department is awaiting the outcome of the appeal.

The position generally is that individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures. The Department is prepared to consider applications from school authorities for grant-aid towards improving safety arrangements, including car parking, inside the vested area of the school, but would require that the integrity of the outdoor play area be safeguarded in so far as is possible. Issues relating to traffic safety, pay car parking and so on outside school grounds are the responsibility of the relevant local authority. Grant-aid is not available for works outside the vested area of the school.

The design and planning of the project are covered by stages 1 to 5, during which the project is developed from the assessment of site suitability, through detailed design, which includes the obtaining of planning permission, to the point where detailed bills of quantities are prepared. In the case of all large capital projects currently in hand within the school building section, progression of a project to tender and construction will be considered in the context of the multiannual school building and modernisation programme. The Minister is committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for both schools at the earliest possible date.

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