Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a timeline for the completion of works on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5402/23]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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Last August, I engaged with the Minister to seek clarification on a timeframe in respect of a school, Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr, County Offaly. I would be grateful if she could give me an update on this project, which is long overdue and which needs to be brought to a successful conclusion at this point.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the Deputy's engagement on, and interest in, this particular project. I am pleased to advise that the project on a greenfield site was approved for delivery by my Department for the school in question. The project provides for four mainstream classrooms and one special education needs, SEN, base under the Department's timber modular framework. The site was transferred from Solas to the Minister for Education at nil cost, in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circulars regarding the transfer and disposal of State assets. The project has been devolved for delivery to Laois Offaly Education and Training Board, LOETB.

Under my Department’s service level agreement with LOETB, the ETB has responsibility for communicating progress on the project to the school authorities concerned. A design team was appointed to guide the project through the stages of architectural planning and tendering, with the ultimate goal of proceeding to construction in a timely manner.

The project will employ my Department’s timber modular framework, which is manufactured to comply with the Department’s technical guidance documents. These are available on the Department’s website. The project will achieve a low embodied carbon footprint that will meet or exceed 2030 targets contained within Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland, RIAI, 2030 climate challenge target metrics for new-build schools published in October 2021. My Department's professional and technical officers are working closely with design teams on this project and others employing this innovative technology.

My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022, notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. This is evidenced by the fact that there are currently 300 school building projects at construction stage and a further 1,000 at pre-construction stage, including the project referred to by the Deputy. The Department will continue to review its ongoing enrolment requirements for 2023 and the associated work programme.

The particular project raised by her is currently at planning application stage with a final decision to be made in late February. The Department is currently examining needs for the 2023-24 school year as part of its overall assessment of our work programme.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for her detailed response and welcome the fact that progress is being made. However, this has been frustrating for all involved in the school community, including teachers, students and parents. The school opened its doors in 2015 and while the Minister has outlined the progress that has been made, which I welcome, we owe it to the school to make sure that there is constant monitoring of progress and a timeframe is put in place for each step that will follow after the planning process has concluded. That is only fair and right because the school needs to be able to plan ahead for increased demand.

11 o’clock

At this point, however, a timeframe outlining the steps and providing a sense of when we are going to reach the end line needs to be given to the school. The only way to do that is to provide a timeframe and a schedule. I acknowledge that the Department has engaged with An Foras Pátrúnachta but there is a need for constant engagement and communication. Everyone needs to be kept up to speed.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Deputy's acknowledgement that considerable progress has been made. The design team has been appointed and the project is currently at planning stage. These are all positive landmarks for the school community. The project was devolved to the ETB, which is charged with responsibility for informing the patrons of the progress of the project as it is ongoing. I acknowledge the importance of the project and I accept that the school awaits it in anticipation but there is a clear line of progress that needs to be followed, particularly in the area of planning. I acknowledge the work of the ETB in this regard, given that the project has devolved to it. We will move the project with the priority that can be afforded to it, giving consideration to the various hurdles it has to jump. I acknowledge the Deputy's personal interest in this, along with Deputies Fleming, Cowen and Flanagan and everybody else who has come to me in respect of it. The ETB will progress this as it is devolved to it. We would like to see it happening as quickly as possible.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for her response and her commitment to ensuring the project gets over the line. As she stated, conveyancing is at an advanced stage and that is certainly welcome. I have been raising this issue on the floor of the House not just last year or the year before that but for many years and I am committed to seeing it over the line. However, an information vacuum still exists at times in respect of timeframes and how things will move after the planning stage has concluded. An Foras Pátrúnachta, the ETB and the school community should be told when they can expect the school to be built and open. The lease is running out on the current accommodation and, seven years after opening its doors, the school is still in limbo.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the excellence of education that is being delivered there every day. I also acknowledge the expectation of school communities that we would deliver as quickly as possible. From the point of view of the ETB, given that the project is devolved to it, there are particular steps that have to be taken, whether that is in terms of design, planning or whatever. It is positive that the decision in respect of planning is to be made at the end of the month. That will be a landmark moment in the development of the project going forward. It will be expedited as quickly as possible. I acknowledge the Deputy's personal commitment to the project, along with Deputies Cowen and Flanagan and the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming. It would be remiss of me not to include the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, in that regard. I know the public representatives, along with the school and wider community, are significantly invested in this. It will be a landmark when planning is received in late February.