Seanad debates

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Commencement Matters

Schools Building Projects

10:30 am

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, for attending to address this matter which is extremely important to Monaleen national school, Castletroy. I live in Monaleen where my four children went to school. There has, however, been an ongoing problem with overcrowding in Monaleen national school which has over 850 students and the enrolment is growing. It will probably reach 900 next year and be capped at that level. There are 31 classrooms, of which 13 are in prefabs. Three are in the original old school building, while a further 15 are in the newer school building. That number will increase to 16 next year, bringing the total to 32.

Following my discussions with the Minister, I am glad that his Department is considering providing a brand new 32-classroom school on the site. Effectively, that will involve knocking down and replacing the existing buildings. While that is to be welcomed, I would like to deal with the logistics. I understand a brief formulation report is being completed by the Department, but I am asking for it to be fast-tracked in order that we can proceed to the architectural planning and design phase of the new school building. Does the Minister expect the Department to examine the project in order that the school can apply for planning permission and put a contractor in place? I understand the process will take about 18 months to complete, but the new school building is urgently needed. It is welcome that the project is being prioritised for examination by the Department, but I want it to be fast-tracked in order that the brief formulation report can be issued. It will provide the road-map for how the new school building will be constructed, including the appointment of design consultants as quickly as possible. The school could then proceed to the planning phase, followed by the appointment of contractors. Parents and pupils in the fast growing greater Monaleen-Castletroy area will then have a school that is fit for purpose. It is a great school in terms of its teaching methods, but the buildings are old and need to be replaced. In addition, there are 13 prefabs which are not fit for purpose in the modern era. The Minister may wish to give me an indication of the logistics involved and indicate how quickly we can expect to have the new school building up and running.

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter. He knows the backdrop to the schools building programme. There are serious demand pressures exerted by a growing population such that we must provide approximately 15,000 extra places every year to meet increasing enrolments. On top of this, we replace about 5,000 places per annum, which absorbs virtually all of our budget. We are working hard to keep up with demographic growth pressures, not least in County Limerick, as recognised in the six-year construction programme.

Monaleen national school is a co-educational, Catholic primary school which caters for boys and girls from junior infants to sixth class. In recent years the school has experienced rapid growth in enrolments, increasing from 565 pupils in 2009 to 865 in 2016, an increase of 300. As a result, it has required considerable rented accommodation to meet demand. It is projected to grow to a 32-classroom school. I can confirm that it submitted an application to the Department to meet its accommodation needs. The application sought to replace the significant temporary accommodation, in addition to providing further accommodation to meet the increase in pupil enrolments.

To progress the project for the school, approval was granted in March 2015 for the provision of eight mainstream classrooms in the first phase, together with ancillary accommodation. Responsibility for delivery of the project was devolved to the school authority. The school was advised that the provision of further additional accommodation required to meet its needs would be progressed as phase 2 of the project.

The project for the school is contained in the Department’s six-year construction programme, 2016 to 2021. In the course of 2016 it emerged that there were significant complexities and constraints, as the Senator has described, presented mainly by the school site and the location of existing school buildings, as well as infrastructural deficiencies in existing accommodation. Accordingly, taking into account the need to keep the school in operation during the construction phases, it was considered to be more cost-effective to proceed with a single construction project in two phases, with a 16-classroom development being provided in each phase. The approach which is also likely to achieve economies of scale was advised and has been welcomed by the school authority. My Department will continue to liaise with the school concerning the project development and is committed to progressing the project as quickly as possible into the architectural planning process.

I again thank the Senator for raising the matter. As I said, the first phase involves the construction of a two-storey, 16-classroom school. Pupils will then be transferred into the new block from the 1977 building which will subsequently be demolished. A new two-story extension to phase 1 will then be constructed, creating a new 32-classroom school. The prefab accommodation will be demolished to enable external works to be completed. There is, therefore, a good programme of work which the Department is fully committed to progressing.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I see that the Senator is extremely happy with that good news.

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's reply which contains positive news for Monaleen national school. As there are many families with young children in the area, it is welcome that the brief formulation report is being completed. In addition, the Minister is seeking to expedite the project to architectural planning phase as quickly possible. The project is being prioritised by the Department. I thank the Minister and his Department for taking an interest in the project which will yield enormous benefits. The new school is urgently required in the greater Monaleen and Castletroy area.