Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Mary Coughlan, Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills.

I wish to thank Deputy Trevor Sargent for giving me the opportunity of outlining to this House the Department's position regarding the planned re-roofing of Balbriggan community college and gym and regarding the approach made to County Dublin Vocational Education Committee from Fingal County Council concerning a new sports hall for Balbriggan community college.

The school has a current enrolment of 584 pupils. The College consists of two buildings: the original 1950s vocational school building and a more substantial building constructed in the early 1980s on the same site.

The Department has already provided considerable investment into Balbriggan community college. An all-in-grant in excess of €27,000 was provided in August 2006 for a replacement boiler in the school. Under the summer works schemes in excess of €23,000 was provided for electrical works. A further grant in excess of €1.1 million was provided under summer works 2007 for extensive works to the school including enlarging and upgrading classrooms and practical work rooms, renovating toilets and demolishing old stores.

The summer works scheme 2009 is ongoing in the school and includes renovation of the original 1950s building including roofing of the courtyard area. The Vocational Education Committee has also been instructed to proceed to tender for the replacement of the gas boiler and the LPG system for the science rooms in the school. Approval has recently been provided under summer works 2010 for mechanical works at the school.

The Department of Education and Skills has assigned responsibility for managing and monitoring the asbestos removal programme in schools to the Office of Public Works' health and safety unit. The role of the Office of Public Works is to ensure that school boards of management are managing the removal of asbestos materials in a safe manner that is not detrimental to health. It is primarily a monitoring and management role. An Office of Public Works code of practice on the Management of Asbestos in Schools has been drawn up and is available on the Department of Education and Skills website. The entire cost of the programme of detection and removal of asbestos materials in schools is borne by the Department of Education and Skills.

In the case of Balbriggan community college, as the works are of a substantial nature, the major projects division of the Office of Public Works is taking the lead role. Detailed preparation work is required to bring major projects such as the roof replacement works to tender stage. Detailed design stage has now been completed by the Office of Public Works. The proposed work entails the removal and replacement of the asbestos roof, gutters and down pipes with associated works including ceiling replacement and rewiring where necessary. The Department has been in regular contact with the Office of Public Works in relation to the progression of this major project.

I can confirm that County Dublin Vocational Education Committee has written to the Department proposing the construction of a new PE hall for Balbriggan community college, to be co-funded with Fingal County Council. The major projects division of the OPW has been informed of the proposal concerning the new sports hall.

To allow further consideration of this proposal, detailed information will be required on costings, the terms of the suggested co-funding, and the possible savings, if any, that can be accrued by the progression of these projects in tandem. This information is being sought from County Dublin Vocational Education Committee. The progression of this co-funded project will be considered in the context of requirements and the competing demands on the Department's capital budget.

As the Deputy will be aware, there has been significant growth in pupil numbers in the Balbriggan area. The priority for the Department in terms of capital investment is providing additional classroom space. In this regard, at post-primary level, the first phase of Ardgillan Community School, which is also under the Vocational Education Committee, was completed in 2009. The second phase, which was approved for architectural planning in February of this year, will be an extension to cater for a 1,000 pupil school, including an enhanced community facility.

I assure the Deputy that the Minister and her Department are committed to providing suitable high-quality accommodation at Balbriggan Community College. I thank the Deputy once again for raising this matter.

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