Seanad debates
Thursday, 11 June 2015
Commencement Matters
Schools Building Projects Status
10:30 am
Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise the issue of the provision of a new school for the Holy Family school in Cootehill, County Cavan. After 15 years, numerous Ministers with responsibility for education and countless false starts, the Holy Family school in Cootehill remains very much in limbo in regard to the provision of new accommodation.
As can be attested by many, the school is an outstanding facility, with a committed staff, a supportive board of management and an active parents association. On a visit I paid to the school, I was very impressed by the dedication of the staff and the commitment of the parents, particularly when we take into consideration the premises and existing resources. The urgent need for the provision of a new school is obvious to any visitor to the school or to anyone who speaks to parents or staff who have experienced at first hand the cramped conditions pupils and staff must contend with.
As of the start of this month, the new school is at the architectural planning stage, but it is not part of the five-year programme for investment in infrastructure or jobs package. When I looked at recent parliamentary questions on school funding, this school was on the last status list of school building projects. Unfortunately, since I came to this House and since this issue has been raised by me and other public representatives and members of the community, we have been receiving the same reply to our questions in regard to this school. There seems to be no commitment to make financial provision for the project.
The Minister may not be aware that the Holy Family school in Cootehill caters for people with severe and profound learning disabilities and moderate and multiple learning disabilities and for people with autism. Reports forecast that in the coming September the student population will increase from 143 to in excess of 150 for the first time ever, with 21 new children expected to start in the autumn. The school and board of management do not want to turn children away because of the need to bus students to another premises. They do not want to turn students away because there is a need for this vital service.
What needs to happen in order that this project can progress to the funding stage? What is the cause of the delay and how can we overcome that? It is not acceptable that accommodation must be rented to cater for the number of pupils. This is not an issue that has just arisen. The issue has been on the departmental, ministerial and local representative agendas for well over a decade and has cropped up frequently in parliamentary questions over recent years, but there has been little progress. We hear a great deal of talk about the importance of education, cherishing all the children of the nation equally and ensuring those with special educational needs are not disadvantaged in our system, but the reality tells a different story. The test is delivery in the classroom.
The premises in Cootehill are not fit for purpose and are too cramped. The teachers and the staff are doing sterling work. Without their dedication and without the tireless work and campaigning of parents and the community, the situation would be even worse. I am sure that, due to the extensive lobbying on the issue, the Minister for Education and Skills is aware the premises are not fit for purpose. We need to deal with bottlenecks in the system as a priority. This is an essential spend rather than a discretionary one, so we need to deal with the problems and overcome them as soon as possible.
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, I thank Senator Reilly for raising this matter as it provides the Minister with an opportunity to clarify the current position in regard to major capital projects for the Holy Family special school in Cootehill, County Cavan.
The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. Primary enrolments, which have already risen substantially in recent years, are projected to rise by almost 37,000 pupils by 2016 and are set to continue to rise, with a likely peak in 2019. To meet the needs of our growing population of school-going children, the Department must establish new schools and extend or replace a number of existing schools in areas where population 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.
Holy Family school, Cootehill, is a multi-denominational special needs school. The school is co-educational and caters for pupils from four to 18 years. The school caters for pupils with moderate learning disabilities, severe or profound learning disabilities and pupils with autism. Enrolments at Holy Family school for the school year 2014-2015 were 136 pupils, an increase of 16% over the past five years.
The brief for the major building project for Holy Family school, Cootehill is to provide a new 21-classroom special school and appropriate ancillary accommodation, with associated car parking, a bus drop-off, a sports pitch, play areas, a sensory garden and site boundary treatment. The project to provide the permanent accommodation for Holy Family special school is currently at stage 2a, development design, of the architectural planning process. In order to complete stage 2a design, it recently became necessary to appoint a replacement consultant mechanical and electrical engineer to the design team. The closing date for receipt of tenders was 12 May 2015 and the appointment of the new engineer will be concluded shortly. The replacement engineer will be involved with the existing design team members in the completion of the mechanical and engineering elements of the design. Thereafter, subject to no further issues arising, the project will progress to the conclusion of stage 2b, with the completion of tender documents. Planning permission, fire safety certification and disability access certification have already been obtained for the project.
School building projects, including the new school for the Holy Family special school, which have not been scheduled for construction in the current five-year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stage in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being made available to the Department in future years. The project for Holy Family special school remains available to be considered for further progress in that context.
Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister to relay my comments to his colleague. The response mentioned that the appointment of a new engineer will be concluded shortly. I hope this is a priority and that it happens as soon as possible without any further delay. The Department stresses that demographic growth is a priority when it comes to extending or replacing schools. I must stress the serious issues relating to the cramped conditions in this school. For example, there are serious issues for children in wheelchairs and the logistics of getting into and out of cramped rooms. These conditions are no way ideal and the education of some children is being disrupted. I ask the Minister to relay that to his colleague.
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I assure Senator Reilly that the Department has an active interest in this matter and is anxious to advance the project. She is familiar with the process involved in moving from stage 2a to 2b, but she can be assured the Department is actively involved in the matter.