Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the position on the major capital project at Scoil Mhuire in Stranorlar.

The Deputy will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. The Department's latest published projections for primary pupil enrolments indicate a increase in the order of some 29,000 pupils in the school year 2018-19 compared with current levels. In order to meet the needs of the growing population of schoolgoing children, the Department must establish new schools, as well as extend or replace several 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 in the coming years. Stranorlar has not been identified as an area of significant demographic growth. In 2014-15, there appears to be a slight spike in enrolment in the area. However, enrolment in the area is expected to gradually decline over the next few years. Notwithstanding that, Stranorlar has not been identified as an area of growth, a new site for the proposed new school was completed some time ago. A project brief was prepared and the project has been advanced into the architectural planning process.

The project at Scoil Mhuire B and C, Stranorlar, will consist of a new three-storey, 24-classroom school with ancillary accommodation on a greenfield site. The design team for this project was appointed in March 2014. The original project supervisor for the design process, PSDP, ceased trading shortly after its appointment and a replacement PSDP member of the design team was subsequently appointed. The school building project is at an early stage of architectural planning - stage 2a, developed design stage. A stage 2a stakeholder meeting involving officials from the Department and the school's the board of management and its design team will take place shortly. Following this, and subject to no issues arising, the project will be authorised to progress to stage 2b, which is the detailed design stage and which includes the making of applications for fire certificates and disability access certificates and the preparation of tender documents. Planning permission has been secured, as the Senator pointed out.

School building projects, including the project for Scoil Mhuire, which have not been included in the five-year construction programme, are being progressed to the final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in future years. On behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, I again thank the Senator for the opportunity to outline the current position in regard to the major capital project for Scoil Mhuire, Stranorlar.