Seanad debates

Wednesday, 30 January 2019

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Schools Building Projects Status

10:30 am

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The next matter is from Senator Lombard and concerns a very important matter in his constituency.

Photo of Michael D'ArcyMichael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I think it is your constituency as well, a Chathaoirligh.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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My constituency is the Thirty-two Counties now. I will not allow it to be diminished.

Photo of Tim LombardTim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State and realise the Minister for Education and Skills unfortunately cannot be here due to issues in Donegal. He made contact about it last night, in fairness. I am calling for an update regarding the purchase of a site for a Gaelscoil in Kinsale. The Gaelscoil has been a unique and thriving part of our community for 11 years, during which, unfortunately, it has been housed in prefabs. One of these buildings had to be abandoned last year because of the condition it was in. It has been an ongoing debacle trying to secure a site for a permanent school.

Kinsale is a unique location. In the past ten years, its population has grown by 23%, which is significant when we consider our population growth nationally. The need for a permanent structure and site for the Gaelscoil has been talked about for over a decade. We have moved an awful long way along this path. We have identified a five acre site, which the local authority, as the purchasing power, and the Department have agreed is suitable. Contracts were submitted to the Chief State Solicitor's office last October. We are trying to get these contracts out to start the process, which is part of the Government's schools building programme. For that to happen, this roadblock needs to be lifted. We need to ensure the Chief State Solicitor's office signs off on the site so we can move on.

We have a unique population of students going to the school. We have 106 boys and 112 girls in the school at the moment. In this day and age, it is probably not appropriate that they should go through their childhood education in a prefab setting. We need to find a solution. The solution is to purchase the beautiful five acre site that has been identified. We need the Chief State Solicitor's office to remove these blockages so we can deliver the school for the people in the surrounding community of Kinsale.

I hope the Minister of State can give me some detail regarding what the Chief State Solicitor's office is planning to do and whether the matter can be moved forward. If not, perhaps the Minister of State would speak to me afterwards about trying to move this project forward.

Photo of Michael D'ArcyMichael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter. A new school building for Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile is included on the Department's six year capital programme. The project is to provide is a permanent school building for the Gaelscoil which is currently in temporary accommodation. In that context, the Department of Education and Skills has been working closely with Cork County Council under the memorandum of understanding for the acquisition of school sites with a view to securing a suitable site for this school. Under the memorandum of understanding for the acquisition of school sites, local authorities assist the Department with the process of identifying and acquiring sites for the development of school accommodation. The first step in this process is the identification of suitable sites by the local authority. The identified sites are then technically assessed on a joint basis by officials from the local authority and the Department’s professional and technical staff.

The Senator will appreciate the importance of a thorough appraisal of site options at this point in order to ensure the achievement of value for money and to minimise the potential of any issues arising during the planning and development stages. A number of site options for Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile were identified and thoroughly technically appraised for suitability by personnel from the Department of Education and Skills and Cork County Council. Arising from this exercise, the Department has been engaged in negotiations with the owners of one of the suitable sites identified at technical appraisal stage. The site in question is that on which the Gaelscoil is currently located in temporary accommodation. Negotiations have concluded and agreement in principle has been reached with the landowners in respect of the proposed acquisition of this site by the Department. Therefore, the site acquisition process has advanced to the conveyancing stage as draft contracts are being prepared and legal due diligence is being undertaken in respect of the proposed transaction. The acquisition of the site will enable the Department to progress the architectural planning process for the project. I assure the Senator that the school authorities are being kept apprised of progress with respect to the advancement of the site acquisition and building project for the school.

Photo of Tim LombardTim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State has updated us on the information that is in the public domain. Moving forward, it is about trying to get the contracts that have been with the Chief State Solicitor's office since last October signed. We have lost three or four months and we need to get movement on this issue. I ask the Minister of State to make representations to the Chief State Solicitor's office to try to move these contracts forward. Having them signed would be a major step forward for the community of Kinsale that uses the school. If we get this project going, we will go through the building programme at speed. While this may seem like a small thing, it is a major roadblock and it would do an awful lot for us if it were lifted.

Photo of Michael D'ArcyMichael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I will speak directly with the Minister on the matter and try to get officials from his Department to provide an update on where matters are with the Chief State Solicitor's office. The objective of the exercise is to move on to the next stage.