Written answers

Tuesday, 28 May 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects Status

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

125. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when construction will commence for a permanent school building for a school (details supplied) to accommodate the pupils and staff; the stage the school is at in the development process; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current lease is to expire in February 2020; the arrangements made to accommodate the school after the lease on its existing temporary premises expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22827/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The permanent site acquisition process for the school to which the Deputy refers is now complete.

A planning application for the permanent accommodation for the school was lodged in January 2019. A request for additional information received from the local authority was responded to on 26 April 2019 and a decision is awaited. Following receipt of planning permission the project will proceed to tender.

Provided no issues arise it is envisaged that the permanent accommodation will be completed in September 2020.

In relation to the need for the schools interim accommodation to move from its current location in February 2020 I can advise the following.

The school's interim accommodation is located on a privately owned site. The Landlord had required my Department to confirm that the school would vacate the property at the end of January 2020.

I am happy to announce that on Monday, 27 May, the Landlord contacted my Department to advise that they have carried out a review of the business plan and strategy for the site and are now agreeable to extend the Lease termination date from the 31 January 2020 to the 30 June 2020, so there is no longer a need for the school to move to alternative interim accommodation in January 2020.

I have already outlined the position in relation to the permanent accommodation for the school and the matter will be kept under review.

My Department is in regular contact with and holds monthly meetings with the school's Patron Body Educate Together in relation to this and a number of other projects under their remit and will continue to keep the school's Patron Body fully informed of progress.

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of remedial works and the completion of external precautionary measures identified for a school (details supplied). [22836/19]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the works on a school (details supplied) will be completed in summer 2019; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22837/19]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be provided with temporary prefabricated buildings for accommodation on site if works on the school are not completed; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22838/19]

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the work on a school (details supplied) will be finished. [22839/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 129, inclusive, together.

The Deputy will be aware that last October and November my Department carried out initial structural assessments into 42 schools constructed by a particular contractor. In 22 of these schools precautionary measures were implemented to enable continued safe occupation and part of the school to which the Deputy refers was closed following the identification of significant structural issues.

Precautionary measures were not required at the school referred to by the Deputy as the school was closed.

Following on from the initial assessments, which were based on sample opening up works, my Department initiated a second phase of detailed investigations for the schools on the 18thof January last. This next phase of the programme is focusing initially on the 22 schools that have precautionary measures in place and also at the school to which the Deputy refers, which remains partly closed.

The purpose of these investigations is to determine the type and extent of structural issues in each individual school and, from the technical information gathered by the appointed structural engineers, to design permanent remediation solutions for delivery where these are needed.

In line with the update published by my Department in January, detailed structural investigations have now been completed in all of the 22 schools with precautionary measures in place and at the school in question.

The school referred to is different from the schools with precautionary measures in place in that the nature and extent of the issues there are such that the building under investigation was required to close. The school remains operational in another building on site.

Detailed investigations have concluded in the closed building and engineers are working to design solutions. When these are known, a programme of works to remediate the building will be put in place for implementation.

When the works programme is available, the details will be first shared at meetings with the Patrons and the schools involved. Arrangements are being put in place, for such meetings with the Patrons and the School Authorities of the 22 schools, including Ardgillan which has been scheduled in June.

This is an Education and Training Board school. Pending the delivery of the remediation work, my Department will ensure, in continued consultation with the ETB, that any interim accommodations needs at the school are met.In this regard, 2 additional temporary classrooms, a woodwork room and prep area together with a disabled access toilet have been approved for September 2019.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.