Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter, which is on the urgent need for approved school building projects in Dublin Mid-West to begin construction. This is something I have raised consistently in this Chamber in my tenure as a TD. As the Minister of State may be aware, we are facing a school places crisis in my constituency. As I said in the Dáil both this week and last week, we have school buildings waiting for the go-ahead for extensions and new builds for years now. We also have students who do not know which post-primary school they will go to in September.

I am really disappointed that there is no Minister from the Department of Education present, although I appreciate that the Department has provided the Minister of State with information to respond to me. Our school communities - parents, students, teachers and principals - are waiting on new builds and extensions and they are fed up waiting. Honestly, I am fed up asking for updates. It is very disappointing that in 2024 all students do not have equality of access when it comes to education. That is the reality for those who go to a school that does not have a PE hall or a woodwork or home economics room because the school is languishing on a waiting list for a new building.

Let us talk specifics. Lucan Community College applied for its new school building in 2009. The project proceeded to tender but 15 years later, they are still waiting.

Griffeen Community College had its planning application approved in February 2022 but the contact still has not been awarded. They have been accommodated in Kishoge Community College for years, and now in prefabs too. Why do we open schools if we do not have permanent homes for them? Coláiste Pobail Fóla, Saggart, is in shocking condition and is awaiting its build.

Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole, has been waiting on a new building since I went to school there. I do not want to give away my age but that is not today or yesterday. They have over 900 pupils and they are mostly in what were designed as temporary prefabs. For this coming academic year, they had 335 students apply and they can only accept approximately 180. That means siblings will be sent to different schools at this stage. Coláiste Chilliain, Clondalkin, has been promised a Gaelscoil campus to accommodate it, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin and Gaelscoil na Camóige. Both Holy Family Community School and Coláiste Chilliain were asked to submit specialist detailed further information. They did so in the summer, in June in many cases, but there still has been no update from the Department. My simple question is, what is the delay?

Last year, the school building programme, as we all will be aware, ground to a halt. The Department of Education said it needed extra money to be able to cover the increased cost of building. An extra €960 million was found and was allocated but nearly a year on, we have not seen any result of that. We have not seen any progress in my constituency. Over €41 million has been assigned to Lucan and Clondalkin alone for capital investment in schools. As far as I can see, there are 19 schools at stage 3 in Dublin and nine of them are in Dublin Mid-West. That is a really small area within Dublin and it is accounting for almost 50% of school builds at stage 3. The money is there. The plans are there. The need is most certainly there. What is the delay?

In Dublin Mid-West we have so many school communities in desperate need of the hope and excitement that a new school building will bring. Why is the Department not pushing forward those plans?

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Department of Education, to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the large-scale capital building projects for Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole, and the Clondalkin schools campus. The projects are included in the Department's construction programme which will be delivered under the national development plan as part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework. The Department's planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole and the Clondalkin schools campus remain a priority for delivery, in line with the accommodation issues present at the schools.

The tender process for both projects was undertaken and a contractor has been identified. Given the magnitude of this large scale investment, the tender report evaluation process takes time for the Department's technical staff to adequately and appropriately analyse. The Department is very conscious of the urgency in getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible. The next steps for the projects will be the completion of the tender process and progression to stage 4 - construction.

I want to reassure the Deputy, Holy Family Community School and the Clondalkin campus school community that the school building projects will be progressed and delivered. The Department will update the school authorities when there is a further update on the progression of the major projects.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that update. It is welcome news that they will be delivered as quickly as possible but I would still like to know what "as quickly as possible" means. What kind of a timeframe are we looking at?

I would like to take this opportunity to ensure that the Minister of State, the Minister for Education and her Department are aware of the primary schools that also need new buildings and extensions in my constituency. They are: Adamstown Castle Educate Together National School; Gaelscoil na Camóige, which has been in prefabs for 30 plus years; Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin; Scoil Chrónáin; St. Thomas's Junior National School and Scoil Áine Naofa senior national school, which are together on the ADAPT programme, although I do not know what "Accelerated Delivery" means in their instance; Divine Mercy, junior and senior; Rathcoole Educate Together National School, which, I welcome, has gone to planning permission; Gaelscoil Lir; St. Ronan's National School, which, I understand, is being approved for rapid build for which I am grateful; and Scoil Mochua.

I cannot stress enough that speeding up the tender process would genuinely transform the situation for people in my community. We have so many schools still at stage 3, and almost 50% of Dublin schools at stage 3 are in my constituency. This seems to be the stage at which the process seems to grind to a halt. It needs to be addressed immediately if we are to turn projects around for schools, such as Lucan Community College, Griffeen Community College, my own old school, Holy Family Community School, Coláiste Pobail Fóla and Coláiste Chilliain.

I ask that the Minister of State work with me on this and that he help me get the results from the Department and the Minister for Education because schools in Dublin Mid-West are starting to run out of patience and the reality is we are running out of time for students who need places this September.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under Project Ireland 2040, the Department of Education is investing well in excess of €5 billion over the period 2021-25 to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost 1 million students and over 100,000 staff who learn and work in our schools every day. The Department of Education has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2023, notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in schools, including the completion of over 470 school building projects, with construction currently under way at approximately 300 other projects which includes 34 new school buildings.

The Deputy clearly outlined a situation in her constituency. It sounds like one of the most pressing ones I have heard and in taking questions for the Minister, I have heard a few.

I do not have dates for the Deputy on the schools that are progressing at present but I will certainly take back her message to the Minister for Education.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It appears that there is inordinate pressure in the Deputy's constituency and information seems not exactly readily forthcoming. It might be possible for the Minister of State to ask the Department of Education, which is doing superb work all across the country, if a briefing could be organised for the Deputy to give her some understanding from officials as to where various projects are at.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am happy to do that. I have only updates on two schools in my information here.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

If the Minister of State could request that for the Deputy, it would be helpful.