David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

465. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected date of publication of the tender and appointment of a contractor for the construction of schools (details supplied); if she is satisfied with the current progress of the tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4114/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme and planning permission has been secured for the campus project.

The decision to grant planning permission by the Local Authority was subject to 57 conditions primarily related to the specification and construction of a significant road network which is essential to access the school site and which will be built by a third party developer.

My Department, through its Project Managers and their Design Team, continues to work closely with the developer and the Local Authority in relation to the necessary planning compliance documentation for both the schools and the roads. Following agreement with the local authority on compliance matters, it is the developer’s intention to commence the roads construction in early 2021.

My Department is currently in the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, can be tendered. That Framework is expected to be in place within Quarter 1 2021. My Department’s intention is to have the project referred to by the Deputy tendered as early as possible thereafter following the establishment of that Framework of Contractors.

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

466. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the educate together school in Clonmel, County Tipperary, which was promised in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4124/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools within these areas. Analysis of the parental preferences expressed in each area surveyed indicated that there was sufficient parental demand to support changes in school patronage in 28 areas, including in Clonmel.

Under the patronage divesting process, a school can be opened where a school building became, or was due to become available as a result of an amalgamation/closure of an existing school. In some areas, including in the case of Clonmel, in responding to demand for diversity where existing patrons were unable make school properties available, my Department also included an examination of properties held in public ownership.

To date, it has not been possible to secure a school property to facilitate a new school being established in Clonmel. However, my Department is continuing its efforts in relation to identifying a suitable solution under the patronage divesting process, which would facilitate a new Educate Together school being established to serve the Clonmel area.