Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when construction will commence; and if all issues regarding the purchase of the site are now completed. [27617/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2b – Detailed Design.

This project was authorised to commence the Pre-Qualification of Contractors in May 2018.The pre-qualification and shortlisting of suitable contractors normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete. When pre-qualification is complete the project will then be progressed to tender stage.

The project is currently profiled to commence construction in Q3 2019. However, my Department has advised the school that if they are in a position to commence construction earlier in 2019, my Department is agreeable to facilitating same.

Regarding the site, legal representatives for both parties are working together with a view to concluding the conveyancing. All parties continue the work to ensure the acquisition completes at the earliest possible date and at this point it is still not anticipated that the completion of conveyancing will impact on the timelines for delivery of the building project. 

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the growing need for a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if his Department concluded a review of the educational needs of the population in the area and its future needs. [27618/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future.  Based on the current analysis, this need can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools. Approximately 40% of extra school places are delivered by extending existing schools.

I have highlighted that the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.

While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school in the South Kildare school planning areas, additional capacity in the region of 1,700 school places will be provided when projects at the following four schools in this area are completed:

St. Conleth's Community College, Newbridge;

Athy Community College, Athy;

Cross and Passion Secondary School, Kilcullen; and

St Paul's Secondary School, Monasterevin.

A building project for the Patrician College Newbridge is also included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.

However, in line with the ongoing review of school planning areas generally, I can confirm that my Department is currently reviewing provision at post-primary level across the school planning areas in South Kildare.