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

I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills who is unable to take the debate and sends his apologies. He had a prior commitment to visit two schools with the Taoiseach. He would like to be here to discuss the matter with the Senator because he knows it is very important for the Cork area and the area represented by the Senator. Again, I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides an opportunity to clarify the Department's position regarding the provision of a major building project for Ballintemple national school, County Cork.

The Senator will be aware that Ballintemple national school is a co-educational, Catholic ethos primary school catering for boys and girls from junior infants to sixth class. Ballintemple national school has a current enrolment of 222 pupils with a 4% growth in pupil numbers in the period from 2013 to 2017. The school has a current staffing complement of a principal, eight mainstream class teachers and four special education teaching posts. This staffing level will remain unchanged for the next school year.

The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years, including in the Cork area, because it is an issue he has raised quite often in both Houses. In that regard, the construction programme aims to prioritise new building projects and major extensions, including special schools, in areas where demographic need has been established. In light of the anticipated growth in the area concerned, it has been agreed with the school that it would develop from an eight-classroom to a 12-classroom school on a new patron-owned site at Boreenmanna Road in Cork.

In addition, the Department of Education and Skills has been in contact with the National Council for Special Education in respect of special education requirements in the Cork area. In that regard, agreement was reached with the school that provision will be made in the project brief for an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, class. Hopefully, that will be good news. The project brief for Ballintemple national school is, therefore, being finalised to provide for a new 12-classroom primary school with a one-class ASD unit. This process is nearing completion with a view to allowing the project to progress to architectural planning stages, including the appointment of a design team. This is expected to be completed in the near future. I am advised Department officials will be in further contact with the school to advise on the position once it enters the next phase. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Bruton, I thank the Senator for raising this matter and can confirm the Department's commitment to progressing the building project in the case of Ballintemple national school.