Seanad debates

Wednesday, 2 March 2005

Schools Building Projects.

 

7:00 pm

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Terry for the opportunity to outline the proposals of the Department of Education and Science for the Castleknock Educate Together national school and the position on the lands at Beechpark Avenue.

The new school project for the national school is due to proceed to tender and construction within the next 12 to 15 months. It will be a 16 classroom school which will also have a special needs unit. It is envisaged that the construction period will be approximately 12 months from the date the project commences on site. The lands at Beechpark Avenue, owned by the Department of Education and Science, were purchased in order to provide educational facilities. The design for the school means that the Department will be using part of the land traditionally used for playing pitches to build the new school. The design team for the school building project is aware of the St. Brigid's GAA club's use of the land. It has, as best as possible, positioned the new school building to minimise the impact on these playing fields.

The school is designed as a two-storey building. However, road safety concerns for the children demand that the school is placed a certain distance from the main road. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, and the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Brian Lenihan, recently met officials from St. Brigid's GAA club to update them on the school building project. At this meeting the Department proposed a compromise solution by agreeing to move the boundary of the new school 5 m, which it believes will leave enough land to continue accommodating two junior pitches. As previously indicated, the Department intends to put in place a formal legal agreement governing the use of the remaining lands once the school is in place.

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