Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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611. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the schemes that exist for schools to apply for funding for more substantial structural work than would normally be covered by summer and emergency works schemes, for example replacement of roof, walls or the construction of new buildings. [34085/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to inform the Deputy that the Summer Works Scheme does provide for a variety of categories of works including substantial structural works such as the replacement of roofs.

The Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme is the main mechanism for provision of additional capacity in schools.  Decisions on applications received from schools are based on demographics or special needs accommodation requirements that are not already met in the school or local area.

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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612. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will urgently review the design brief in respect of a new school (details supplied) in County Cork given the current enrolment and the projected population growth in the area and the demand for additional classroom accommodation in adjacent new primary school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34091/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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A major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under the Department’s ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction. The tender process to appoint a Project Manager has just been completed.

The first step to be undertaken by the Project Manager will be the tender competitions for the appointment of design teams for a number of school building projects. This will include the appointment of the Design Team to progress the proposed project. The Department has recently written to the school authorities in relation to the appointment of the Project Manager who will advise of further developments in relation to the design team appointments.

The project will provide for a new school building on the new site to accommodate an enrolment of 350 pupils plus 4 classes for children with special educational needs. The site will also be master planned to accommodate any potential future expansion requirement should this be required.

The school in question is one of three post primary schools in the School Planning Area (SPA).  The post primary projections for the SPA indicate a requirement for 992 pupils with the peak year being 2023. This figure is projected to decline thereafter with an expected reduction by almost 100 pupils by 2027. The three schools between them have a total enrolment in 2021/22 of 962 pupils.

The primary school enrolment for this SPA is projected to have peaked in 2020 with numbers seeking enrolment at post-primary level therefore expected to be reflected in a reduced demand for places in the three existing post-primary schools.

On the basis of the above, the Department considers that the provision of a school on the basis of a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 350 will cater for the projected demographic demand in the SPA.

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