John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1019. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the construction of an extension for a school (details supplied); the estimated timeframe for the completion of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40507/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA).

I can confirm that a Design Team to deliver this project was appointed by the NDFA in April 2021. The Design Team is now preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design).

While at this early stage it is not possible to provide details or a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1020. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when works will be completed for an extension to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40508/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The building project to which the Deputy refers is an extension and refurbishment project to cater for 750 pupils. Works commenced on site in October 2020 and subject to no issues arising, completion is expected in the final quarter of 2022.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1021. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a two-storey extension for a school (details supplied) to replace the existing prefabs; the stage the project is currently at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40509/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Major Building Project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of Architectural Planning, which includes site assessment and location suitability, and initial sketch scheme.

Since the appointment of the Design Team in January 2020, my Department have held a number of interim Stage 1 meetings with the Design Team and Project Manager . An End of Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting took place on July 9^th2021, and officials from my Department have requested the Design Team to provide a Stage 1 Addendum Report to address the overall projected costs.

Upon receipt and review of the addendum , my Department will advise the Board of Management and its Design Team with regard to the further progression of this project.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1022. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of providing permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied); the stage discussions are currently at; if her Department intend on proceeding with the site previously identified; the timeframe from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40510/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has initiated a site identification and assessment exercise for a 1,000 pupil post primary school in the area in question and its environs. While a site acquisition process is underway and, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time

A similar exercise was undertaken a number of years ago which proved unsuccessful and the current exercise will establish if the situation has changed in the intervening period.

Until such time as this process has been completed, it will not be possible to provide a timeline for the construction of a permanent building for the school.

In the meantime, refurbishment works are underway in the school's interim accommodation to provide further capacity for the school.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1023. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been identified by the Department for a permanent location for a school (details supplied); the stage that this is currently at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40511/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from my Department have identified a number of potential site options in Wicklow Town for the permanent location for Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School and negotiations are ongoing with the landowners.

My Department is working towards acquiring the most suitable site for this school while ensuring value for money for the exchequer is achieved. Officials from Wicklow County Council are assisting my Department in this regard.

While a site acquisition process is underway and, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1024. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a timeframe from construction to completion of a new school building for a school (details supplied); if provision will be made for an ASD unit in the school as part of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40512/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this project includes a 2 classroom SEN base (ASD Unit).

My Department has approved the project to proceed to Stage 2(a) of the architectural planning process which is the developed design stage. It is a matter for KWETB, as the client for the project, to ensure that this is completed as quickly as possible.

Once the Stage 2(a) submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, the project can proceed to tender and construction.

KWETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1025. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a timeframe from construction to completion for an extension to a school (details supplied); the current capacity for students at the school; the expected capacity when the extension is completed; if provision will be made for an ASD unit in the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40513/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.

I am pleased to confirm that this project will provide accommodation for a long term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils with a 4 classroom SEN base (ASD unit) included.

The NDFA has started preparations for the appointment of a design team for the project. This appointment will be a key first step in the design and construction stages.

At this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project; the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1026. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to exploring the possibility of constructing a secondary school in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow due to the current and increasing population in the local area and given the pressures with the lack of secondary school places in the locality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40514/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. For school planning purposes, Newtownmountkennedy is located in the Kilcoole school planning area.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

A site acquisition process is only commenced where an identified requirement for a school building project exists.

As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 47 new schools over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022. This included a new post-primary school for the Kilcoole and Greystones school planning area as a regional solution and the school, Greystones Community College, opened in Greystones for the 2020/2021 school year.

My Department is satisfied that with the establishment of Greystones Community College as a new regional school for the Greystones/Kilcoole area and with the completion of the building projects at St. David’s Secondary School, Greystones and Coláiste Craobh Abhann, Kilcoole that the resulting additional permanent accommodation will be sufficient to cater for future demand in the area in the short to medium term.

The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with Wicklow County Council in respect of its review of the County Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1027. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to exploring the possibility of constructing a secondary school in the Kilmacanogue-Enniskerry area of County Wicklow due to the current and increasing population in the local area and given the pressures with the lack of secondary school places in Bray, County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40515/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. Enniskerry is in the Bray school planning area.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

Following such analysis, a new post primary school to serve the Bray, Kilternan and Ballybrack_Shankill school planning areas (North Wicklow ETSS) was established in 2016. A major capital project for North Wicklow ETSS to cater for a long term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils is being addressed through my Department’s Capital Programme.

A building project / extension is planned for Loreto Bray to cater for a long term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils also through my Department’s Capital Programme.

The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with Wicklow County Council in respect of its review of the County Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1028. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to build an extension for a school (details supplied) to increase capacity; the current student capacity at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40516/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021. This project was approved in April 2021 and has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.

The project will provide for the following accommodation at the school: 1 x General classroom, 1 x Music room, 1 x Textiles room, 1 x Art room, 1 x Graphics room, 1 x Multimedia room, 1 x Science lab, 1 x Science prep area, 2 x Technology rooms with a shared prep area and a 3 Classroom SEN base.

I can also advise the Deputy that temporary accommodation has also been approved as part of this project to cater for the school’s needs in September 2021.