Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position on delivery of a new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45012/23]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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First, I must declare an interest as a member of the board of management, a past pupil, and the parent of a student. I speak on behalf of so many locals about our pride in Coláiste Ghobnatan, our school in Baile Bhuirne, which provides such fantastic education services locally. There is a very strong team of staff there, as well as facilities. We need to advance that building. Could the Minister outline the up-to-date position in advancing that building?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Through Project Ireland 2040, over the period 2021-25, in excess of €5 billion will be invested in upgrading school facilities across the country for the almost 1 million students and more than 100,000 staff members who learn and work in our schools every day.

The Department has approved a large-scale building project for the school to which the Deputy refers. He has advocated very strongly on an ongoing basis for this school. The project involves the provision of a new-build extension and alterations to the existing school buildings that will provide modern school facilities and cater for an enrolment of 300 students. The project has been devolved for delivery to Cork Education and Training Board, ETB, and has recently been approved to move to stage 2B of the architectural design process.

In November 2022, officials from my Department met Cork ETB and its design team and a number of recommendations were made in relation to the design of the project. Cork ETB's design team incorporated these recommendations in its stage 2A addendum report, which was submitted to the Department of Education in August. This was reviewed by the Department's professional and technical team and approval to progress to stage 2B is now sanctioned.

The next step for Cork ETB and its design team will be to obtain the requisite statutory planning approvals and incorporating same into the detailed design and tender documentation for the new school project. The Department will continue to work closely with Cork ETB to ensure support and to monitor progress on this project. Cork ETB will also engage with the school community to keep it updated on all significant developments.

This project is part of the strong pipeline of projects being delivered under the Department's school building programme involving almost 300 projects at construction in 2023, which include more than 40 new school buildings. This is a very positive step forward for this school. I know it is a school that is very close to the Deputy's heart. It is a school that is richly deserving of advancement. It is a very positive news story that we can say that stage 2B has now been sanctioned and that the next step is to move towards the requisite statutory planning approvals.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Táimid an-bhródúil as Coláiste Ghobnatan agus as a foireann. Tá an-chuid á déanamh acu ann agus iad ag cur córas oideachais iontach ar fáil don phobal. Tá gá leis an bhfoirgneamh nua sin le fada. Is maith an rud é a chloisteáil go bhfuil sé anois ábalta dul ar aghaidh i dtreo an chórais phleanála. An dtabharfaidh an tAire soiléiriú ar na céimeanna eile atá amach romhainn chun an foirgneamh nua seo a bhaint amach?

It was originally intended to advance a plan for the school in 2016 and it has taken some time to get through the various hoops and get to this stage. It is good that at this point the plan is now being moved on towards planning permission. Could the Minister outline the next stages to bring about a new building in Coláiste Ghobnatan?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tá an-dul chun cinn déanta againn go dtí an pointe seo. Tá dea-scéal againn ó thaobh Choláiste Ghobnatan inniu. Tá céimeanna eile ann anois.

There are a number of next steps. The first and perhaps most important step has now been taken in that it has progressed to stage 2B, and that has been sanctioned. The next step will be for Cork ETB and its design team to obtain the requisite statutory planning approvals and to incorporate them into the detailed design and tender documentation for the new school project.

The Department will be very happy to work and liaise with Cork ETB to support and monitor progress of the project. Cork ETB in turn will also engage with the school community to keep it updated on all significant developments. That is hugely important because there is extraordinary buy-in, in both the immediate school community and the wider community, when they see developments for schools going forward. This is a very positive, good news story for Coláiste Ghobnatan, and I look forward to it moving ahead from all these demands as quickly as possible.