Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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This matter is in regard to an extension to Ardscoil Phádraig in Longford, where I have been on the board of management since I was elected in 2009. The school principal is Rosemary Johnston and the deputy principal is Bríd Nevin. The school is under the auspices of Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board and is a co-educational post-primary school located in north Longford. The enrolment figure was 116 in 2003 but this had risen to 253 in 2017-18 and has grown steadily over the years since to the current school-year enrolment of 344 students.

It is a school that has DEIS status, which is a fantastic asset, given all that brings to a school. Personally, it is something I would love to see being available to every school throughout the country.

The first special class in a post-primary school in Longford was opened there in 2009. A purpose-built building was added in 2018 and there are now 18 students in the three special classes in the school. I look forward to welcoming them to Leinster House in early 2024 after we receive our accreditation as an autism-friendly parliament, which is something I am really looking forward to.

The school was granted an extension in February 2021 yet here we are, in October 2023, and we do not seem to be any further on. As I said, I am a member of the board of management. Tonight is the open night in the school for children from fifth and sixth classes throughout Longford and beyond, and students from parts of Cavan and Westmeath will also attend. Indeed, my eldest son will be there tonight to help him to make the decision about where he would like to go to secondary school.

Ardscoil Phádraig is a school that provides a rich and diverse curriculum. It caters for the needs of each individual student with a vast range of educational experience that will stimulate and challenge these students, and I can stand over that statement as a member of the board of management. The school is committed to the development and care of students. A strong emphasis is placed on the holistic, personal and social development of students, which is catered for through an extensive range of extracurricular activities, including art, culture and sports, with all students actively encouraged to participate. Only in the last 12 months, a group of students from the school won a certificate in the Aberdeen Angus competition and represented Ireland abroad. There are also equestrian activities. The needs of any student are looked after and they are allowed to participate, whatever interest they may have. I can say honestly, as a member of the board of management, that it is a fantastic educational institution.

For it to progress, however, facilities are badly needed. I ask the Minister of State to give an update on when we will see progress on the ground and see these facilities, which have been sanctioned, being developed in the school.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator. I am making this statement on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, in regard to the planning and building unit of the Department of Education.It gives me an opportunity to outline what is happening with regard to Ardscoil Phádraig. I note the Senator is on the board of management of the school, as well as his comments in respect of the rich and diverse curriculum and the significant growth in the number of pupils attending the school. He stated that the number has risen to 344 from 116, which is a substantial jump.

As he may be aware, the project in question is a building project to deliver enhanced accommodation at Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard, County Longford. The Department of Education has approved the following works under the additional school accommodation, ASA, programme: five general classrooms; one music room; one multimedia room; one textiles room; and one science laboratory, including one science preparation area. As the Senator is probably aware, responsibility for delivering the project has been devolved to the Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board, LWETB. It has appointed a design team to design the accommodation being provided and to bring the project through the tender and construction phases.

The design team has responsibility for progressing the project as expeditiously as possible through the stages of architectural planning. Projects progress from stage to stage in accordance with the project brief and the Department's design guidelines. The project for Ardscoil Phádraig in Granard is currently at stage 1 of the process, which is the early design stage. Stage 2 involves detailed design and statutory approval, followed by stage 3, which involves procurement of a contractor, and progression to stage 4, which is construction and completion. Stage 2b includes obtaining all statutory approvals, preparing a set of fully detailed tender documents and preparing an accurate pre-tender cost plan. At this early juncture in the Ardscoil Phádraig project, it is not feasible to give an indicative timeline for delivery. The Department will continue to engage directly with the ETB in providing assistance and advice to ensure delivery of this important project.

The Department has a strong track record of delivery through a variety of mechanisms, including design and build programme, employer-led design programmes, devolved programmes and modular accommodation programmes. Across all the Department’s programmes, there is a strong emphasis on the use of modern methods of construction, which is consistent with the Government’s overall direction of travel in this area. Between 2018 and 2023, nearly 1,000 school building projects were completed.

Through Project Ireland 2040, the Department is investing in excess of €5 billion over the period from 2021 to 2025 to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost 1 million students and more than 100,000 staff who learn and work in our schools every day. I am conscious of the strong support from the Government for investment in education, including through supplementary funding in addition to national development plan allocations. There is a strong and significant pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, involving 300 projects at construction in 2023, including more than 40 new school buildings. These 300 projects at construction involve a total State investment of more than €1 billion.

It is of the utmost importance that the final outcome for this project at Ardscoil Phádraig will be the correct one for both the school authority and the pupils. Equally, neither the Department nor the ETB are in any doubt about the criticality of the need for this accommodation for the wider school community.

I reiterate the design team for the school has submitted a stage 1 report to the Department. This is currently under review and should be concluded shortly. Comments will then issue from my Department’s professional and technical team to the ETB and the school authorities for progression of this additional schools accommodation project.

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. We must give gratitude for the significant investment by the Government in schools building projects throughout the country. As she stated, the project is currently with the design team, which has submitted a stage 1 report. I ask that the report be expedited and dealt with straightaway in the context of continuing in the process. Is there a shortage of qualified staff to assess these projects? Is that why it is taking so long for them to move through the system? I ask that the project be prioritised and highlighted, given the need that exists. I acknowledge there are needs in other schools throughout the country but my priority is to make sure this school progresses. The numbers are there. The school has progressed and expanded, with a high quality of teaching, as there is in all schools in Longford. We must keep up to date, however, and put facilities in place there for children. I ask that this be pushed on further and the need for it to progress be highlighted.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator. I wish the school, as well as the Senator and the other members of the board of management, the best of luck with its open night tonight. It is probably beneficial that he has tabled a Commencement matter on the issue. The Department will be aware it has been raised today in the Seanad. The stage 1 report is with the Department and is being reviewed. I will bring back the Senator's request to have it expedited as soon as possible. I have set out the context of all the other building projects but, of course, this project is of particular interest to the Senator and it is not without merit. I will certainly bring that back to the Department.