Dáil debates
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Adjournment Debate
School Accommodation
9:00 pm
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise a matter concerning Scoil Naomh losef, Dromcollogher, County Limerick. The school is seeking support from the Department of Education and Skills for the construction of an additional room for the school. Scoil Naomh losef is the primary school in Dromcollogher, catering for 107 pupils. The school has five classroom teachers and two learning support teachers. There are six classrooms in the building, with one being used as a staff room and storage area. There is no general purpose room, which causes a major problem for a school trying to deliver the 1999 primary curriculum in its entirety. This is particularly difficult during inclement weather, when teachers try to include a weekly one-hour slot of physical education together with other subjects including drama, art, music and the SESE subject areas that require space for children to engage in active, exploratory learning as set out in the in the foreword to the primary curriculum. The problem is also in evidence when the school tries to deliver annual Christmas concerts, parents events, demonstrations, whole school events and other curricular needs. It is simply not an option for the school to use the community centre in Dromcollogher for these activities as it is located at the opposite end of the town.
The school's two cloakrooms have been transformed into an office and learning support room and, as a result, the children's coats are being hung in the corridors, which is hardly ideal. Scoil Naomh Iosef is like many other rural primary schools in the sense that it plays an important part in the life of the wider community. For that reason, any investment by the Department is not just an investment in the school but is an important contribution towards the social infrastructure of the parish. Earlier this evening and last night, I listened to contributions from all sides of the House urging the Government to ensure everything that can potentially be done is done for primary education. Specifically, Deputies encouraged the Minister to invest in school buildings and to reduce the State's dependance on portakabins as an alternative to permanent accommodation. The benefits of this approach - I understand there are budget limitations - are stimulation of the local economy through the construction of extensions and the modernisation of the children's learning environment, reflecting the needs of the school. As a teacher, I have seen at first hand the difference access to space and properly constructed facilities have on the learning experience. I am aware of the benefits that will accrue to Scoil Naomh Iosef if an investment of this order is made.
The school community at Scoil Naomh Iosef, Dromcollogher, is attempting to improve the physical infrastructure of its school and so be in a position to deliver the primary curriculum to its pupils. The quality of learning and teaching available in a modern school environment is partially dependent on the facilities available and it is for this reason I urge the Minister and his Department to look favourably upon the request to have this school included in any future round of funding allocation.
I pay tribute to the management, staff, parents and pupils of Scoil Naomh Iosef and wish them well in their endeavours. I again thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise this matter. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's reply.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairà Quinn. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in schools building projects and the current position of the application for capital funding from Scoil Naomh losef, Dromcollogher, County Limerick.
The Government, in its programme for Government, is committed to drawing up a new national development plan that reflects Ireland's changed economic circumstances, covering the seven year period, 2012 to 2019. The plan will be based on a comprehensive study of Ireland's public investment priorities in that period. In the initial years, when resources will be most heavily constrained, the programme for Government commits to prioritising investment in a number of specific areas, including school buildings. The Government will insist that major capital projects are subjected to proper cost benefit analysis and evaluation, thereby improving future productivity and growth prospects, and that the value for money obtained is significantly enhanced when compared with the most recent period. Modernising facilities in our existing building stock as well as responding to the emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth will continue to be a significant challenge.
All applications for capital funding are assessed in the planning and building unit of the Department. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of buildings, site capacity and so forth, leading to an appropriate accommodation solution. As part of this process, a project is assigned a band rating under published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. These criteria were devised following consultation with the education partners. Projects are selected for inclusion in the schools building and modernisation programme on the basis of priority of need which is reflected in the band rating assigned to a project. A proposed building project moves through the system commensurate with the band rating assigned to it. There are four band ratings, of which band 1 is the highest and band 4 the lowest. For example, band 1 projects include the provision of buildings where none currently exists but there is a high demand for pupil places, while a band 4 project provides for desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities such as a library or new sports hall. Documents explaining the band rating system are available on the Department of Education and Skills website, www.education.ie.
Scoil Naomh losef has an enrolment of 105 pupils as of September 2010 and enrolment has remained steady over recent years. Staffing at the school comprises a principal, four mainstream teachers and one permanent learning support teacher. The school has accommodation for each of these staff members. The application by Scoil Naomh losef for a major extension has been assessed and has been assigned a band 2 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects to which I have referred. I advise the Deputy that Scoil Naomh losef recently made another application to the Department for additional classroom accommodation. This is being assessed by officials from the Department and the school will be informed of the outcome of this application in due course.
The progression of all large-scale building projects, including the proposed project at Scoil Naomh losef, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, however, it is not possible at this time to give an indicative timeframe for progression of the project. I can confirm to the Deputy, however, that the school was granted funding for the replacement of windows under the summer works scheme 2010 and was approved contingency funding for roof repairs in September 2010 to assist it in maintaining the fabric of the existing building.
I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position regarding the school building project for Scoil Naomh losef, Dromcollogher, County Limerick. I will ensure the Department, in particular the building and planning unit in Tullamore, is aware of the Deputy's contribution to the House on the necessity for works at the school to be progressed as soon as possible.