Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who wanted to attend but could not do so. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position on the provision of improved accommodation for Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Ormonde Road, Kilkenny.

The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. Post-primary enrolments, which have already risen substantially in recent years, are projected to rise by over 19,000 pupils by 2016, as I mentioned earlier to Senator Cullinane. They are set to continue to rise and will probably peak with around 404,000 pupils to be catered for in 2025. This compares with some 327,320 pupils enrolled in post-primary schools for the 2012-2013 school year. It is vital, therefore, that there is sufficient school accommodation to cope with these pupil enrolments.

In order to meet the needs of our growing population of school-going children, the Department must establish new schools as well as extending or replacing a number of existing schools in areas where demographic growth has been identified. The delivery of these new schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years.

Coláiste Pobail Osraí operates from prefabricated premises on the grounds of Ormonde College, which is in the ownership of the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board, ETB. I understand that it shares woodwork, science, technology and computer facilities with Ormonde College. I can confirm to the Senator that the Department has received an application from the school for major capital funding to provide a new school on a green field site. Department officials visited the school earlier this year and the Department subsequently provided grant aid to the school to reconfigure existing accommodation within Ormonde College and to purchase additional temporary accommodation. This grant will assist in providing improved accommodation for the school as well as providing accommodation for increasing pupil numbers.

The forward planning section of the Department is currently considering the demographic demand for additional school places in all areas of the country, including Kilkenny. The accommodation needs of Coláiste Pobail Osraí and how they might be met will be considered in the context of this review. The review should occur in the timeframe envisaged by the Senator as the forward planning section has been very active analysing various counties. I hope we can work on the report next year to get some indications on pupil numbers, demographics and required school accommodation.

In view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, outlined in the five year plan, to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential teaching accommodation to meet demographic demand, the Senator will appreciate that it is not possible to provide an indicative timeframe at this time for the progression of a building project for the school. The Department will, however, continue to liaise with Coláiste Pobail Osraí regarding its accommodation needs.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position. The analysis will be conducted in a manner that I hope the Senator finds timely.