Seanad debates
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Schools Building Projects Status
2:30 pm
Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan. I invite Senator Gallagher to outline his matter.
Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo inniu. The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I thank him for taking time to be here. Ballybay community college applied for an extension to its school facilities in 2015. The extension incorporated two classrooms, a science room and a science preparation area. The school has been waiting patiently for some years for some good news from the Department. Along with the local councillor for the area, the current cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Seamus Coyle, I have raised this issue on numerous occasions, most recently three weeks ago, with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh. Yesterday, I requested that a Commencement debate on the matter be arranged for this afternoon and I am pleased it is going ahead.
Ballybay community college is a successful school with more than 338 students. The numbers, thankfully, are increasing year on year. The school is located in the centre of County Monaghan and caters for a wide catchment area. The school has a great record on the academic front and on the sporting field. Last year the school won an all-Ireland football championship title for post-primary schools. The school is very successful and is blessed with excellent, dedicated and hard-working teachers under the guidance of principal, Moyah Lynch, and deputy principal, Conall Ó Grianna. The school is progressing at a great rate.
I understand the Minister of State may have some good news for us this afternoon. I believe the Department was in contact with the school yesterday evening and perhaps again this morning. I eagerly look forward to the response of the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, in the Chamber this afternoon.
John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I thank Senator Gallagher for bringing this very important matter to the attention of the Department. I know he has been to the forefront of promoting this project for a long period. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McHugh, I wish to outline to the House the current position regarding a new building project for Ballybay community college. I can confirm to the Senator that my Department has received a request from Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board, CMETB, for additional accommodation for Ballybay community college. The request has been given careful consideration. In that respect, I am pleased to inform the House that approval has been given for the provision of a stand-alone extension to the existing accommodation of the school. As the Senator correctly said, this extension will include two general classrooms, a science lab and a science preparation area. The project is being funded under my Department's additional accommodation scheme.
As is usual with such projects, its delivery has been devolved to CMETB. It is being progressed with a view to resolving the issues referred to by the Senator and to increasing the accommodation that it currently occupies. Under my Department's additional accommodation scheme, the next step in progressing this project is for the CMETB to arrange for a consultant to carry out the work necessary to bring it through the various stages of architectural planning and onwards through construction in due course. The board will also engage with the Department at various stages in the process in that context. The first stage in the process will be the completion of a detailed design for the project. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme, the CMETB will be required to seek approval from the Department at this stage, namely, stage 2(a), of the design process. The Department will review the designs presented to it in that respect. Subject to the Department being satisfied with these proposals, it may then authorise the board to proceed to lodge a planning application for the project.The CMETB will then bring the project through the planning process and may need to revert again to the Department, depending on the outcome. At that stage, subject to departmental approval and the tender process, the board and its consultant will proceed to tender for the contractor to carry out the building works. This project will supersede an earlier project, which, as the Senator will be aware, was for the provision of a science laboratory and preparation area only. This project had been approved but could not proceed due to the significant cost and design challenges. The entire approved provision for the project is now included in the revised provision. I am delighted to make this announcement. I am sure the pupils, staff, parents and the entire community of Ballybay and its catchment area will benefit from this critical extension project.
Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. That is, indeed, good news and I thank him most sincerely for relaying it to us. I take this opportunity to thank the school's board of management, the parents' association and the CMETB for their work in bringing this project this far. I also thank the Department for finally giving us the go-ahead to move on to the next stage. This is a great investment for the taxpayer because the school will continue to thrive and the young people of Ballybay and its surrounding areas will be the beneficiaries of this investment. I look forward to the project proceeding without delay to its ultimate conclusion as soon as possible.
John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I again thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I assure the House that the CMETB is fully committed to providing this critical new school accommodation and that it will be supported by the Department, particularly in the key stages in the process. The Department remains fully committed to progressing this project.