John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Brady. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, who is not available as he is before the Seanad to take Committee Stage of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016.

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position regarding the accommodation needs of North Wicklow Educate Together post-primary school. As the Deputy is aware, a major capital project for the provision of permanent accommodation for North Wicklow Educate Together to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils is being addressed through the Department's six-year construction programme. The Department's capital programme continues to address the challenge posed by a rapidly increasing school population, including in areas such as County Wicklow. In addition to major school projects, the capital programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or an additional teacher has been appointed.

The Action Plan for Education sets out the Government's ambitions for the education system, including the commitment contained in the programme for Government towards the prioritisation of school educational infrastructure. Following the capital review, additional capital funding of €332 million will be available to the schools sector, primarily from 2019 onwards, boosting investment in our primary and post-primary school infrastructure. This significant investment reflects the priority the Government has placed on education and delivering on our ambition to deliver a fair society and strong economy.

It is planned that in the period to 2021, more than 350 announced large-scale projects, including a major project for North Wicklow Educate Together, will be advanced under the Department's construction programme. An option for the location of a permanent site for North Wicklow Educate Together post-primary school is being finalised. The school was established in 2016. As an interim measure and with the assistance of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, it was housed in a property leased by the ETB at the old presentation building at Putland Road in Bray, which the Deputy mentioned. The school opened with an enrolment of 36 pupils and numbers are growing incrementally, with an enrolment of 119 pupils in 2017. The Department is aware that the existing lease on the Putland Road building is due to expire in May 2019. Officials from the Department are continuing to liaise with Kildare and Wicklow ETB to ensure North Wicklow Educate Together has adequate accommodation to cater for its growing pupil numbers from September 2019 onwards.

I want to clarify for the Deputy that the Department is continuing to prioritise this matter and will liaise with the patron of North Wicklow Educate Together when a further update is available. As I indicated, the Department is liaising with the Kildare and Wicklow ETB in the context of a permanent school building for North Wicklow Educate Together and will liaise further with the Educate Together patron in this regard.

I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the position to the House. I assure him that the Department is concerned to ensure that both the interim and long-term accommodation needs of North Wicklow Educate Together post-primary school will be provided for.

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