Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the status of the building project at Ballinspittle national school, which is a small school in a nice village in south County Cork. The school has seen significant development, as has the village of Ballinspittle, over recent years. The school was put on the six-year capital building programme in November 2015, which was a very positive step for Ballinspittle and the entire community. In the original proposal, it was supposed to go to construction in 2017. This is one of the key issues we are fighting for this morning. We want to see this school progressing and we need the project to go to construction in 2017. For the 2017 commitment to be met, it must go through detailed design, planning and tendering this year. It is now March, time is ticking and the need for the school is very important. The site is available. There are at least three and a half acres around the school so there is no issue with the site itself. Numbers in the school have increased. By 2018, 230 pupils will be going to this school. There are two autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classrooms that are a very important part of the school and its ethos.

One of the key issues with the school building is that it is maximised at every level, be it a store room, the general purpose, GP room, the community hall or the hall itself. The GP room is divided in two so there are two resource teachers in that room. As the GP room is taken up with resource teachers, there is no drama or PE in the school. A total of 19 children need sensory space, sensory time and sensory breaks, which are very important. The only way they can get them is to get them in the hallway, which is not appropriate. It is a big issue for the community, the principal and the parents of children in the school. It is a thriving community that will do its utmost for its children. It needs this project to be moved forward. It is in the building programme but time is ticking. It will need another teacher for the academic year starting in 2018. There is no room at the moment for that teacher. If the store room and GP room are being used and if there are children who need to use the hallway for sensory time, there is no capacity at any level to take another teacher in September 2018 so we need this project to be moved forward at pace.

We need a site visit, the project to be progressed and the detailed design, tendering and planning to be done. We need to get somebody on site in order that in the next year and a bit, this school will be completed. In many ways, Ballinspittle national school is like many schools that need upgrades in a very short period because the community has grown rapidly. The special needs aspect is probably the heartbreaking part. We need to move urgently and the matter needs to be prioritised. I realise that the Minister of State is not directly involved but she could give some hope to the community that this project will be progressed in the short term and completed by September 2018 because these are the very strict and tight deadlines that the community is unfortunately under.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills who is unavailable. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the Department's position regarding the provision of a major building project for Ballinspittle national school in County Cork. The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years, including in the Cork area. In that regard, the six-year construction programme aims to prioritise new building projects and major extensions, including special schools, in areas where demographic need has been established. In addition, the capital programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools, including special schools, where an immediate accommodation requirement has been identified. In that regard, it is open to schools to apply for funding for additional classroom accommodation where required.

The Senator will be aware that Ballinspittle national school is a co-educational Catholic ethos primary school catering for boys and girls from junior infants to sixth class. In recent years, Ballinspittle national school has experienced significant growth in enrolments of almost 50%, with pupil numbers increasing from 145 pupils in 2010 to 214 pupils in 2016. As a result, it requires a major extension to the existing school to meet current and anticipated future demand for school places. In light of this increase in enrolments, it was agreed with the school that it would be allowed to grow from an eight-classroom to a 12-classroom school. In addition, the Department has been in regular contact with the National Council for Special Education in respect of special education requirements in the Cork area, and provision will he made in the project brief for Ballinspittle national school for a three-class ASD unit.

The Department is aware of the specific accommodation needs of the school, and in that regard, the building project for Ballinspittle national school is included in the Department's six-year construction programme. In the context of progressing this project, the Department is undertaking an analysis of the school's architectural plans in advance of a technical site visit. The Department will also be contacting the school shortly with a view to scheduling a date for the technical site visit after Easter. I thank the Senator for raising this matter and confirm the Department's commitment to progressing the building project in the case of Ballinspittle national school. I recently spoke to officials from the Department who are fully aware of the need to increase classroom space. However, until the scheduled technical site visit takes place after Easter, they cannot provide any specific dates.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for her response. The key issue is the technical site visit which needs to be made as soon as possible. We need to get the people on the ground to work out exactly what is required and where we can actually go. As Easter is only a few weeks away, I hope that will happen in the next month. If the technical site visit can be made, we can progress. Perhaps the Minister of State might correspond with me on when exactly the site visit will be made. Getting a date is very important for us. If we can get one, we can reassure the community that progress is being made.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I will speak to the Minister and ask him to correspond as soon as possible with the Senator on a date for the site visit.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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It might be appropriate for the Senator to also raise the matter at a parliamentary party meeting.