Results 15,201-15,220 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: I am going to move to another questioner. Mr. Dolan may send a full reply to the clerk and we will forward it to the Senator.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Deputy Nolan is next and will be followed by Deputy Conway-Walsh.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: I have a couple of questions. Under forward planning it states the intention to adequately account for future need. Can Mr. Loftus bring me through the process for identifying a site for a school? How does he make sure they have the school, the local authority, the patrons and everybody involved until you eventually have bricks and mortar or students on site?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Mr. Loftus might be able to confirm something for me from my local newspaper two weeks ago. The Department purchased a 16-acre site in Clonard, County Wexford, for a 1,000-pupil replacement building at Selskar College and an eight-classroom Educate Together school. The total cost of the site has never been disclosed, but perhaps Mr. Loftus will confirm that the site is not fit for purpose.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Was the Department aware that there were environmental issues with the site before purchase? Has the Department purchased the site?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Is the purchase still in negotiations or what?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: So if planning permission is not granted the site will not cost the Department any money?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: If the Department does not attain planning permission it will not cost the Department any money?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Will the site cost the Department money if planning permission is not granted?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: I understand. Regarding the person from whom the Department is buying the site, is there no contract if the Department does not buy the site? Was a deposit paid on the site?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: So the only thing that the Department will lose is the deposit?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: I call Deputy O'Connor and then I will come back in again. I will allow members to come back in again as we are here for another while.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: The Deputy and Mr. Dolan might be able to have that conversation when the meeting concludes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Yes, I was going to say that we had parents giving out to us because the schools were cold. I have a couple of questions for the witnesses before we wrap up. I know Mr. Loftus and the building unit are aware there are significant pressure points in the secondary school sector in Wexford town. The construction of a new secondary school in Wexford is required urgently. Students are...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Is there provision that this can be applied for all year round? There is urgency, not just when it comes to someone applying for it back in March or April for work to be done over the summer.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: When schools are increasing their enrolment and, say, moving from 500 students to 750, which is happening a lot now in larger towns and especially in secondary schools, as a matter of course, all the facilities in the school are set for 500 pupils but the school moves to 750. What planning work is the Department doing in respect of that? For example, instead of just getting a few general...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Okay. I refer to an issue that goes back a couple years and still exists. One of the officials in the building section of the Department was going back between education and training boards, ETBs, and the schools themselves. This is kind of a doubling up and duplication. Take, for example, the summer works scheme and the emergency works scheme, where the Department goes directly back to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: Yes, it would be beneficial if everybody knows the story. I complimented the Department of Education. During my time in government, we got St. Patrick's special school in Enniscorthy and it is a fabulous facility that cost almost €12 million. Last year, the Minister for Education visited St. Patrick's special school and because the project was not finished it was officially opened...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: If you ask the question, do not wait for the answer at the end. It is not fair, because two other people wish to contribute.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Briefing on Current and Future Plans for the School Building Unit: Department of Education (31 Jan 2023)
Paul Kehoe: I will ask the witnesses to send their reply to Ms Tara Kelly who will send it on to you, Senator. It will be the same for the other Deputies. I ask the Department representatives to finish off their reply to me.