Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Ar dtús báire ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Cheann Comhairle as cead an cheist tábhachtach seo a ardú. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the need, essentially, to get value for money in how we fund basic educational facilities in this case at Balbriggan community college. For background, this secondary school has a proud record in what is the fastest growing area in the country, based on the last census. One can meet pupils from this community college at the Young Scientists' Exhibition, on the sports field or at any number of artistic events and in our third level institutions around the country.

However, the fitness levels of our young people all over Ireland is a major concern, as has been acknowledged in this House time and again. I appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Brady, has been working on this and understands exactly where I am coming from, as we worked together when I was Minister of State in that area.

The obesity report mentions €5 billion as a total cost of obesity related problems per annum. This must make us think twice about what we are doing in this country to address that issue. In Balbriggan, as in many towns, the proliferation of betting shops and takeaway outlets is screaming a warning at all of us in Government. Unless we can motivate our communities to enjoy being active, then we face even costlier epidemics of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in younger and younger age groups.

This is why I feel so strongly about the short-sighted plan to just replace the roof of the old sports hall at Balbriggan community college. As there is asbestos in the old roof there is a need for a new roof. A summer works grant is secured to put in a new heating system. However, Fingal Council has the vision in these straitened times to offer €500,000 towards building a new modern sports hall to replace the outdated one. This new sports hall would have a full size basketball court, changing rooms as well as meeting rooms and a kitchen. With matching funds from Government the 600 pupils and the wider community of 20,000 people in the town alone would then have a badly needed modern sports facilities and meeting rooms.

My debate here this evening is as much to do with value for money as doing the right thing for our children and the wider community. Let us be creative in our thinking here. Let us tap the dormant accounts funds, or perhaps the area partnership funds. Meanwhile I am sad to see that this has to date been seen as a grade 4 project, which suggests sports facilities do not rate as important in the Department of Education and Skills. This is a view which is out of touch with modern educational thinking. Our young people deserve to have basic facilities for a rounded education. I believe we can provide that in this instance is we look at what funding is available and then the best return for that funding. If we do that I believe Ballbriggan community college can have the sports hall it needs a give a good return to the taxpayer.

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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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.