Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the progress of the capital build project of a school (details supplied). [17155/25]

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister for an update on the progress on the capital build project for St. Brigids Girls School, Cabinteely. I recently met the school principal. After a conversation with her about their building project, I followed up with the Department. Following this, the school received a very positive update from the Department. I would like to get the latest update. This is a significant project for the school, which has been working on it for a number of years. It is very important to the school and the school community's future.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I look forward to working with the Deputy on this project and many others. As she knows, the Department approved the additional school accommodation project for St. Brigids School Cabinteely. The project is devolved for delivery to the school authority and a design team has been appointed to progress the project through the necessary architectural stages of design, statutory approvals, procurement and construction. The project was initially approved to provide ten mainstream classrooms and three special education tuition rooms along with ancillary accommodation. In October 2024, my Department increased the brief of the project to include the provision for a three-classroom special education needs base.

The Department is awaiting the submission of a revised stage 1 report to include the SEN provision. Once received, this report will be reviewed, from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the Government's infrastructure guidelines. All projects, including this one, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the guidelines. The design team was initially appointed for this project in 2020. There has been a lot of back and forth on this. It has now changed again. Thankfully, additional classrooms are being provided for children with special educational needs. If we can move on to the next stage and the stage 1 report is presented to the Department, we will then be able to move on more quickly to the next stage. I cannot give a specific timeline beyond that, but once we receive the report, the Department will be able to move forward. There are a number of projects that from everybody's perspective, we want to see progressing as quickly as possible, particularly where additional accommodation is being provided to meet a specific need around special education. My Department is committed to this project and once that information is provided, we will be able to progress it further.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Can I come in?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An Teachta O'Connell, please.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive reply. I can tell from it that it is quite a complex project. It started and then it had to be amended, and we are now at the redesign stage. The school authorities informed me that they have the design sketched out and they will be able to follow up with that. I appreciate that the Department is dealing with a significant number of projects. Some 1,300 school building projects have been completed, as the Minister said, since 2020. One of those included Gaelscoil Laighean. I recall that we were looking for a location in June 2022 and the school opened in September 2023, so a lot of projects are being expedited very quickly. This is another school I have been talking to recently about issues.

One of the issues that comes up as a theme in my discussions with all schools - because I am trying to visit as many schools in my constituency as I can - is that of waiting for updates from the Department on these complex projects. I ask the Minister to consider working with her officials to come up with some mechanism to increase the level of transparency around project development. Sometimes schools can be waiting months or even years. It would be very helpful for the schools if there were some sort of ongoing communication format.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An Teachta Timmins can come in now briefly.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister give an update on three secondary schools in west Wicklow: Blessington Community College; Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass, and St. Kevin's Communtity College, Dunlavin? These are all awaiting building projects to commence. With a growing population in west Wicklow and further development planned in the area, these projects require urgent attention. These are the only secondary schools in west Wicklow and they are crying out for extra spaces. The projects are not moving along. The commencement date for Blessington has been delayed three times.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are often different reasons projects are delayed. It is not always the fault of the Department but there are often design, planning or funding issues. It is important to make sure that funding is managed throughout the year. There are only so many projects that can be progressed at a certain time. The focus and priority is always where additional accommodation is needed. More than 100,000 places have brought onstream over the past number of years alone where extensions or refurbishment were needed, in particular where school buildings had fallen into disrepair.

That is the priority and must be the focus but, in addition, there are always other projects being developed, such as schools moving out from an existing school building into a new build. We acknowledge ,that over decades, there is a normal amount of wear and tear and we must make sure children are being educated in the best possible setting.

I will come back directly to Deputy Timmins on the schools he mentions, as I do not have an update here with me. I acknowledge that Deputy O'Connell has been hugely supportive of the schools in her area. I look forward to working with her on making sure these projects can progress as quickly as possible.

In terms of the Department-----

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----it sets out timelines for the different stages and how long they should take.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá an t-am caite.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We could look at putting a system in place on the engagement that would then take place with schools when they go beyond the timeline.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Will the Minister please conclude? Tá an t-am caite.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is a commonly occurring theme. I am sorry.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for acknowledging the issue about the transparency and the communication pieces between the Department and the schools. School principals are very busy and it is beyond the job description to also be a building project manager.

I draw another issue to the Minister's attention. As we are engaging on building projects, one of the issues that is coming up is the lack of play space in that some of it is being taken over while a new extension or new area is being built. Will the Minister look at building projects to ensure an alternative play space is provided if the existing play space is being taken away?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Insofar as possible, where there are new builds or where schools have to be moved, the Department always attempts to keep some of the play space and to make sure it is not completely taken. The Department also ensures play areas are part and parcel of the development of new builds, be it PE halls inside the school or covered areas for children to be able to use in bad weather or if they do not have outdoor space. It is always a priority to make sure a play space is provided when new schools are developed or when schools are being moved or that such space can be accommodated or provided in another setting. It is not always possible or straightforward but it is something the Department prioritises.

This also comes back to Deputy Boland's question on what in particular is being done to try to support schools and principals. Work has been done in that regard. There are officers and project managers who directly support principals and schools. Again, maybe it is a matter of looking at how that is working and how we can somehow improve it.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Could I make a point of order?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Could I clarify whether any Deputy can just jump in on anyone's question? Does that mean people like me who have listed a question and waited all night to ask it might not be heard tonight? Is that the case?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is a fair point. Deputy Coppinger came to me and asked me. I allowed people in but they have taken too much latitude. If anybody wants to ask a supplementary question, he or she is going to have to confine it to 30 seconds at the most. I understand that is the fair procedure. I understand Deputy Coppinger's situation.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I listed five questions and I got only one of them in. I ask that people would please stop jumping in on them.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was less than 30 seconds.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We cannot have a debate on it.