Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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I thank the Minister for coming in to take these questions today. I wish to raise the issue of Greystones community college with her this evening. Greystones community college is a brand new secondary school in Greystones that had its first intake in September. Obviously, all the parents and students were excited about the fact this new school was getting started.

The school was due to was due to share accommodation with Greystones community national school, in a new primary school building that was also meant to open in September. Unfortunately, the Department decided not to open that school in September at the last minute. I believe the announcement was made in early August. The rationale given was that the Department needed to make sure the school was fit to hand over. This was one of the schools built by Western Building Systems. Unfortunately, we now have two schools, namely, the Greystones secondary school and the primary school, Greystones community national school and that were not able to access their new school building.

The Greystones primary school remained in the temporary accommodation in the rugby club where it has been for the past five years. Unfortunately, because the Greystones community college was a brand new school it did not even have a plan B. It did not even have temporary accommodation it could go back to. The principal spent the month of August scrambling around looking for rooms in Greystones where they could house their new school.

Luckily, the tennis club became available for the school and that is where it is at the moment. There are 64 pupils in this secondary school and, as I said, they are in the tennis club in Greystones. While they were fortunate to get this accommodation, it is not suitable as a school. A classroom is being taught in the foyer of the tennis club. One must walk through the shower room to get into the principal's desk because it is in the changing area. If a student wants to move or go to the bathroom, he or she must go through two other classes to walk around the school to get into use it.

It has also had significant impact on the classes that can be provided to these students. The students were particularly keen on getting stuck into woodwork, as many first-year students are, and, unfortunately, even this simple subject is not being provided this year because the accommodation is not suitable. The tennis club is available until October and we are not sure what will happen after that. It is critical, however, that this school is sorted out.

What are the issues with the new building? It was due to be a rapid build. It was meant to be a ten-month programme and years later, it still has not opened its doors. It is sitting there. My understanding is that there have been no visits from Department to see what is wrong with the school. I may be incorrect, but I am hearing locally that no-one has attempted to get into the school. What is the issue with school and when will it open? When will the primary school, Greystones community national school, and the secondary school be able to access that brand new school accommodation? It is important that the Minister's Department expedites this issue and makes sure the solution is provided to this school as soon as possible. After October I really do not know what will happen to them.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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9 o’clock

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the status of the provision of accommodation for Greystones community college. On 17 December 2019 it was announced that the patronage of the new post-primary school for Greystones-Kilcoole was awarded to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, KWETB. It had been the intention to open the community college in the newly constructed community national school building in September 2020 but this has not proved possible. Greystones community college opened its doors to 64 first year students on Friday, 28 August 2020 in Greystones Lawn Tennis Club. The school, KWETB and my Department are grateful to Greystones Lawn Tennis Club for facilitating Greystones community college. I acknowledge the efforts of the entire school community in preparing the accommodation for the school's opening in these particularly difficult circumstances.

As the Deputy will be aware, the building project to deliver a new 1,000-pupil school for Greystones community college is planned for the designated post-primary site at Charlesland. My Department is committed to delivering this site for the new post-primary school for the Greystones and Kilcoole area of County Wicklow and work is ongoing to achieve this as soon as possible. Discussions are ongoing with the landowner with a view to acquiring this site. As the Deputy will appreciate, any site acquisition process can be lengthy and there can be complex issues which need to be addressed during negotiations, technical assessments and conveyancing. At all times, my Department must strive to obtain best value for the Exchequer while seeking to complete the acquisition as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The project to deliver the permanent accommodation for the school is to be delivered under the Department's design and build programme. As soon as there is sufficient certainty in respect of completion of the site acquisition, the architectural planning and design stage will be completed and, following grant of planning permission, the project will be expedited to tender and construction stages.

I am aware of the issues the Deputy has outlined regarding the current accommodation. I again acknowledge the work that went into making that accommodation available. She will be aware of the difficulties with the proposed accommodation that was being made available. My Department is in ongoing discussions with the contractor on that and it will be expedited as quickly as possible.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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I thank the Minister for her reply, but it really has not brought any further clarity to the issue. There is no indication as to whether the secondary school will be in the tennis club post October. There is no indication as to when the brand-new primary school will be opened and both the primary school and the secondary school can go in there. This school needs clarity. Everybody involved has done an amazing hob. The principal, staff, parents and students have put great effort into making this school as good as possible, but the tennis club is not a suitable location for them in the medium term. It will get them to October but is not suitable post October.

What are the Minister's plans for this school after October? The school and its students need to know; they need clarity. I have raised the issue several times with departmental officials. I have sent emails and submitted parliamentary questions. I have written letters. Last week, I brought together the five Deputies from Wicklow and we are seeking a meeting with the Minister. Will she commit to meeting the five Deputies to give us an update on the issue? We need a firm understanding of where she expects the school to be after October. At the moment there is no indication and no clarity, which is unfair on the students and staff.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, construction of Greystones community national school commenced on site in September 2018, prior to the emergence of issues in October 2018 in 42 schools constructed by the contractor involved, which has been the focus of the Department's schools remediation programme. For the duration of the work, the Department's project management technical advisory team included an architect, civil and structural engineer, fire consultant and others. These parties carried out regular site visits and inspections for the duration of the works. Matters raised by the contractor were tracked on an ongoing basis through fortnightly site visits and inspections by the project team to ensure the identified items were closed out.

The Department also retained a full-time on-site clerk of works for the duration of the project. Throughout the construction period the Department's project management team have used the appropriate provisions of the public work contract to secure the necessary assurance that the building is fit for handover prior to accepting it for handover. The Department will only accept the building and make it available for occupation by the school when it is completely satisfied that it is fit for handover prior to accepting it. The Department is taking appropriate steps to ensure this and engagement is under way between the Department and the contractor in this regard under contract. It is too early to say how long this engagement process might take but, as the process develops, my departmental officials will keep the ETB and school management informed of developments. I think it would only be appropriate to consider having a meeting further to that information becoming available to me.