Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position on a site purchased by her Department in Clonard, County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5004/23]

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

My Department agreed to the purchase of the site in question subject to planning permission to accommodate two existing schools based in Wexford town. This project on a shared educational campus will provide for the construction of a new eight classroom primary school and a new 1000 pupil post primary school. The briefs for both schools also involve provision for special education.[MB1] 

The campus project for the two schools was devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB). WWETB have responsibility under their Service Level Agreement with my Department for communicating progress on the project to the two schools concerned. A Design Team was appointed by WWETB to guide the project through the stages of architectural planning and tendering, with the ultimate goal of proceeding to construction stage in as expeditious a manner as possible.

My Department has received a Stage 1 Report following a meeting with WWETB and its Design Team. During the design process, some potential site constraints have been identified which are being fully investigated by WWETB and its design team. My Department is engaging directly with WWETB in relation to these matters and the options for progressing the delivery of both schools. In the interim, the two school’s accommodation requirements are being met by my Department pending the delivery of this project.

My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. With this in mind, the Department is committed to delivering this significant campus development project as a suitable new learning environment for the two wider school communities as quickly as possible.

Key achievements by my Department in 2022 include:

- There were circa. 180 school building projects delivered during 2022 and a further 273 school building projects continued in construction at the start of 2023 – most of which will be completed in 2023.

- Accelerated delivery of modular accommodation to facilitate additional capacity in special classes and special schools to cater for over 900 children with additional needs.

- Successfully supported and facilitated the enrolment of over 13,500 children from Ukraine in our primary and post-primary schools.

- Necessary refurbishment and maintenance in nearly 1,000 schools.

- 15 Deep Energy Retrofit Pathfinder projects ongoing in partnership with SEAI. 

- Strategic initiatives put in place to support planning for school provision requirements include the Department’s Geographic Information System, National Inventory of School Capacity, engagement with key stakeholders and also setting up of 16 Regional Education and Language Teams (REALTs) to facilitate enrolment of children from Ukraine in a structured and coordinated manner.

- Strategic initiatives put in place to support delivery include use of project manager supports, procurement frameworks, variety of delivery mechanisms and a strong pipeline of projects.

I would like to thank Wexford and Waterford ETB for taking on the management and delivery of this campus project referred to by the Deputy.  This project like so many of the projects my Department has already and will deliver over the coming years involves a very significant investment in the provision of new and very modern facilities for school communities and is very welcome.