Dáil debates

Thursday, 9 April 2009

Adjournment Debate

Schools Building Projects.

5:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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This issue is virtually an old chestnut given it has been ongoing for more than 13 years, which is a considerable time. The gaelscoil was established in temporary quarters in 1996. While the current Administration has been, in one form another, in office since then nothing has happened. Some 13 years later we are no nearer obtaining a permanent structure for the school. The Celtic tiger has come and gone and we have nothing to show for it. The former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, despite making various promises when in the constituency, did not deliver on the project.

In the meantime, the children, staff and parents must operate in appalling conditions. As long ago as 2000, some nine years ago, a district inspector for the Department of Education and Science noted "the deplorable state of the temporary accommodation makes it imperative that the planning process be initiated as soon as possible". Despite that thist statement was made nearly a decade ago, the same appalling conditions prevail. The prefabs are leaking and smelly and children cannot and will not use the school toilets. They are too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter and wet all of the time. The accommodation is a totally unsuitable and unhygienic environment in which to teach children.

There has been a constant long-fingering of the provision of a permanent site. The OPW searched for years for a suitable site but never found one. The matter then fell between the cracks in the Department of Education and Science and was lost for four years, which the Department has admitted. Finally, with considerable effort on the part of the campaign group for a permanent structure, some light has appeared at the end of the tunnel. The Department of Education and Science has decided to build on the existing site. Negotiations in this regard have taken place with Dublin City Council and St. Finbar's GAA club, which owns the lease on the site, with a view to the putting in place of a new lease that would allow for a portion of the land to be transferred to the school for the purpose of constructing a new school building.

At what stage is the process in terms of the transfer of the lease? When will acquisition of the site be concluded and when will the Department revert to the city council with an application for decision on the matter? At what stage are plans for construction of the school? I believe they should be fast-tracked bearing in mind the Department's negligence over a considerable period in terms of construction of a school.

On Tuesday, a substantial cut in the capital budget was announced in respect of the construction of primary and second level schools. I wonder if this will impact on the construction of this new school. Perhaps the Minister of State will provide me with an update of the current position, with the absolute expectancy that there will be no further delays, that the site will be acquired, funding will be put in place, planning will be completed and that the school will be built.

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank Deputy Costello for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the current position on the future plans for Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabra.

Modernising facilities in our existing building stock as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth is a significant challenge, one which the Minister for Education and Science intends will be one of his priorities. The Government has dramatically increased capital investment in the school building programme to an unprecedented level, thus reflecting its commitment to continue its programme of sustained investment in primary and post-primary schools. It will underpin a particular emphasis on the delivery of additional school places in rapidly developing areas while continuing to develop on this Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary accommodation throughout the country.

The Deputy will be aware the Office of Public Works, OPW, which acts on behalf of the Department in site acquisitions generally, was requested to source a greenfield site for this gaelscoil. On foot of advertising, no proposals were received for a greenfield site in the Cabra area. As a result the issue of providing a permanent school on the existing temporary site then came into focus. To pursue this further, meetings have taken place between the Department and Dublin City Council regarding the potential availability of this site. The Department has written to the council with a proposal suggesting that a lease arrangement be put in place.

Officials from the Department have met officials from the city council and representatives of the GAA club to discuss the possibility of entering into a lease arrangement with the city council. Such an arrangement would, in time, require the GAA club to surrender its interest in some of the lands required for the building project. More recently, departmental officials met representatives of Naomh Fionnbarra GAA club separately on 18 February 2009 to discuss three potential design options that would allow for the provision of an eight-classroom school on the site. The club responded by way of letter on 2 March 2009 indicating its preferred design option, based on the options presented by the Department, and highlighting the need for car parking arrangements for its members and the school's teaching staff to be addressed.

On foot of this, the Department subsequently wrote to Dublin City Council to advise it of the design option favoured by the GAA club and to ask the council to consider a technical assessment of the site, incorporating the views of the GAA club. A response is awaited. I suggest that the Deputy might be acquainted with a member of Dublin City Council who might be able to pursue this matter at that level.

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for his advice.

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The further progression of the acquisition of this site and the accompanying building project will be considered in the context of the capital budget that is available to the Department for school buildings in general. I thank the Deputy again for giving me an opportunity to outline to the House the current position in respect of the future plans for Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra. I will conclude by wishing the Acting Chairman, Deputy O'Connor, as well as Deputy Costello and the staff of the Houses, a very happy Easter.

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Likewise.

Photo of Charlie O'ConnorCharlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to be associated with those greetings. I wish everybody a happy Easter.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 22 April 2009.