Written answers

Wednesday, 31 January 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Facilities

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (detailed supplied) and the enrolment limitations for students in the 2018/2019 academic year due to the lack of learning support rooms; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties this is causing parents who wish their children to be educated under the educate together ethos with little alternative in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4944/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the school concerned is located in a former primary school building that was secured as part of Government policy on school divesting.

The property is subject to a ten-year lease between the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) and the Minister for Education and Skills.

As the Deputy is aware, the school has submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation to facilitate expansion. 

However, the lease requires the consent of ERST to place this accommodation on the school site. In this regard, my Department is currently engaging with ERST to secure this consent and  expects a response from ERST shortly.

Department officials have also been liaising with the school principal recently and have advised him that the accommodation will be approved as soon as this consent is granted.

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no provision has been made to provide children with a classroom for special education teaching at a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that as of September 2018 no space will be available in the current block. [4948/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the school concerned is located in a former primary school building that was secured as part of Government policy on school divesting.

The property is subject to a ten-year lease between the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) and the Minister for Education and Skills.

As the Deputy is aware, the school has submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation to facilitate expansion.

However, the lease requires the consent of ERST to place this accommodation on the school site. In this regard, my Department is currently engaging with ERST to secure this consent and  expects a response from ERST shortly.

Department officials have also been liaising with the school principal recently and have advised him that the accommodation will be approved as soon as this consent is granted.

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to upgrade the toilets, heating and windows at a school (details supplied). [4949/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In January 2017 the school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department’s Emergency Works Scheme for window, toilet and heating works.  However, this application was unsuccessful as the Emergency Works Scheme is strictly to deal with sudden and unforeseen emergencies in schools.  The works sought were upgrade works and these are appropriate to the Summer Works Scheme. 

More recently, my Department did provide funding under the Emergency Works Scheme to carry out Fire Safety Works and this project to carry out these works has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.

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