Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45519/24]

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

The project for the school referred to by the Deputy will provide a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school building and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site for the school. The project will be delivered under my Department's Design and Build Programme.

The decision to grant planning permission for the permanent school was received from An Bord Pleanála on 25th October 2023.

Tender documentation is currently being prepared by my Department's project managers. It is intended that this project will be included in the next bundle of Design & Build projects to proceed to tender.

Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by my Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.

My Department will continue to keep the patron body and the school updated as the project progresses.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the provision of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45520/24]

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

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas. The department uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO Census data, 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.

Major new residential developments have the potential to significantly impact the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, the department factors in planning and construction activity in the residential sector.

This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with proactive engagement with local authorities. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise.

This is necessary to ensure that schools’ infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.

The planned establishment of a new post-primary school in 2021 to specifically serve the Cherrywood SDZ which is in the Sallynoggin/Killiney/Dun Laoghaire Rathdown school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise. This announcement also included for the establishment of two new primary schools to serve the Cherrywood SDZ area specifically. One of those primary schools was designated as an Irish medium gaelscoil.

Further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of the planned new schools taking into account a number of factors including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the Cherrywood SDZ area, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the school planning area.

The department is satisfied that existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the school planning area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new post primary school and Irish medium primary school has been deferred.

Since 2011, new arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by the department. New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.

These arrangements also give an opportunity to patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental patronage and language preferences and an analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established. This approach is underpinned by a 2011 government decision.

The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the Cherrywood SDZ area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements in the area.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45521/24]

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

The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school building projects under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for reconfiguration works to existing accommodation to provide SEN accommodation and 2 SET rooms.

The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority.

I can confirm that in Q3 2024 my Department approved this project to construction and officials in my Department have since been informed by the school authority that a contractor has been appointed to carry out these works.

It is now within the remit of the school authority to progress this project accordingly.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45522/24]

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

The Major Building Project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently completing Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes securing all statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents for the first phase of this project for new educational spaces, with Stage 2(b) for the refurbishment works to existing buildings to follow.

All Statutory Approvals have been secured, and the Stage 2(b) Submission was received in my Department in late Q4 2023, for review. Following that review, my Department issued comments from the Professional and Technical Team to the Design Team for their consideration. The Design Team will need to make any necessary adjustments to the tender documents, and confirm to my Department that they are satisfied that all documents comply with Building Regulations, Department Technical Guidance and OGP Procurement regulations.

The prequalification of contractors process will be carried out in parallel with the Design Team addressing the Departments comments.

An enabling works contract to provide the decant accommodation that will be required during the construction phases of the major project is currently underway, and is anticipated to be available to the school in Q1 2025.

Upon completion of prequalification and subject to no issues arising , the project will then be considered to progress to Stage 3, Tender Award.

Department officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.