Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Sean Fleming for raising this issue, which illustrates that Portlaoise is at the acute end of a problem being experienced across the country generally. This year, provision is being made for 20,000 additional school places, which is indicative of the pressure of growing populations. I acknowledge that Laois and Portlaoise in particular have been at the sharp end of those pressures.

The Deputy will be aware that a major building project to provide a new post-primary school in Portlaoise is included in my six-year construction programme 2016-2021 and is listed to proceed to tender and construction stages in 2019-2021. The Deputy is also aware that I announced the patronage of the new post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018 on 3 November last. In the case of Portlaoise, the patron will be Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board with An Foras Pátrúnachta as trustee partner. The new post-primary school will cater for 1,000 pupils when fully established, which is intended to meet current and future demand at post-primary level in future years.

Deputy Fleming is aware that my Department is working with officials from Laois County Council under the memorandum of understanding in relation to the acquisition process for a suitable permanent site for the school. A number of suitable sites have been identified and technically assessed and engagement with the landowner with respect to one of these options has commenced. However, as I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, there are sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally and I am not, therefore, in a position to provide further information at this time.

In regard to St. Francis special school, Portlaoise, a major project is included on my six-year construction programme 2016-2021 with the proposed project to be progressed with a view to proceeding to tender and construction stages in 2018. Following a consultation process with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, it was decided that the project is to deliver a new 12 classroom school to facilitate pupils with mild and moderate general learning disability and ASD. Officials from my Department met with representatives of the school’s board of management, together with the patron’s representative in September. With the full support of the patron, it is proposed that the project will deliver a new school building on the site currently occupied by St. Paul’s national school on Borris Road, Portlaoise. The permanent building on this site, which is currently occupied by St. PauI's national school will be demolished as part of the project. The schedule of accommodation for the proposed new school issued to the school authorities and has been favourably received. It is expected that the project will shortly commence the early stages of architectural planning.

Deputy Fleming is aware that St. Paul's national school is one of three primary schools that are being amalgamated. A building project to provide two new 24 classroom schools to accommodate the newly amalgamated schools is expected to be completed towards the end of this year or early next year. The two 24 classroom schools being built are located on a shared campus on parish lands at Aghnaharna. St. Paul's national school will remain at its current premises until such time as the new school is completed and ready for occupation. The Deputy will recognise that the Department is working hard to ensure that these various projects fall in sequence so that we can deliver for the children in Portlaoise. I can assure the Deputy of the commitment of the Department to keep this project moving swiftly. I hope this meets the Deputy's concerns.

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