Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new building for a school (details supplied); the way in which special needs schools will operate when they reopen in view of to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18473/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project at Holy Family Special School is for the construction of a new 26 classroom special needs school, with a floor area of 5310sqm. The project commenced on site in June 2018 with a contract duration of approximately 27 months.

The contractor appointed on the building project has recommenced construction activity on site and is operating in compliance with the ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol’. The anticipated substantial completion date is December 2020.

The Government published the Roadmap for the full Return to School on Monday which sets out

how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August, and what the operation of our schools will look like in a COVID-19 context. The roadmap outlines a comprehensive range of measures being provided to support the full reopening of schools in time for the start of the new school year in late

August. 

My Department has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the requirements to provide funding to schools for measures such as enhanced cleaning regimes and PPE. My Department has also arranged for a drawdown framework to be established to enable schools purchase hand-sanitisers and PPE for use in the school and classroom. The procurement process for this framework has already commenced and it is intended these materials will be available in early August.

My Department’s ongoing work with education partners and other key stakeholders on guidance for re-opening schools is aimed at reducing the burden on schools at a local level by providing central guidance and supports to the greatest extent possible by the end of July in order to allow time for schools to implement the necessary arrangements locally.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The building project for Gaelscoil an Chaisleain is included in my Department's capital programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Cork City Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school.

A number of site options have been proposed and assessed. A potential site option has been identified. Negotiations with the landowner in respect of the preferred site option to accommodate the school are under way. The Deputy will appreciate that negotiations in respect of site acquisitions are, by their nature, sensitive and for that reason I am not in a position to provide further information at this time. However, I assure him that all parties are working to bring matters to a conclusion at the earliest possible date and Department officials will continue to keep the relevant school authorities appraised of progress.