Adjournment Debate

Scéim Tógála Scoileanna

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Tá áthas orm an deis seo a fháil labhairt faoi Scoil an Bhaile Nua, Maigh Cuilinn, agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Bhí an bheirt againn thiar i Leitir Mealáin le déanaí agus chonaic sé obair iontach atá déanta sa scoil bheag ansin agus cóiríocht iontach uirthi. Feicfear amach anseo go raibh an polasaí a bhí ag Fianna Fáil i Rialtas maidir leis an devolved scheme thar a bheith stuama agus go bhfuil cóiríocht iontach curtha ar scoileanna beaga ar fud na tíre.

Scoil stairiúil í Scoil an Bhaile Nua. Tá sí suite roinnt bheag mílte taobh thiar de shráidbhaile Mhaigh Cuilinn agus go deimhin bhí conspóid faoin scoil seo sna 1970í nuair a bhí bagairt ar an scoil i nDún Caoin agus bhí bagairt an go ndúnfaí an scoil seo freisin. Bhí cur in aghaidh ag an am toisc gur scoil Ghaeltachta í agus gurbh í an Ghaeilge meán teagaisc na scoile agus tá sí mar sin ó shin. Is iomaí duine a chuaigh ar scoil ansin atá ina Ghaeilgeoir breá sa lá atá inniu ann mar gheall ar an oideachas iontach a fhaigheann na daltaí ar scoil ansin.

Is ceantar mór fairsing é ceantar Mhaigh Cuilinn, an ceantar chomh fada siar ansin go Ros Cathail, agus freastalaíonn an scoil ar cheantar fairsing. Tá 88 scolairí sa scoil, le ceithre oide agus ceithre rang. Tugaim cuireadh don Aire Stáit cuairt a thabhairt ar an scoil mar feicfidh sé ceann de na seanscoileanna. Tá sé go deas seanscoil a fheiceáil ach níl sé go deas bheith ag freastal nó ag múineadh i seanscoil. Tá seomraí ranga an-bheag inti, ceann acu 49 meadar cearnógach agus ceann eile 52 meadar cearnógach. An gnáthrud a mholann an Roinn anois ná 80 meadar cearnógach do rang. Níl oifig ag an phríomhoide nó ag an fhoireann agus níl seomra ann don chúntóir teanga a thagann isteach ag treisiú Ghaeilge na ngasúr óga a théann chuig an scoil seo. Is trua nach bhfuil cóiríocht iomlán á cur ar an scoil.

Cheadaigh an Rialtas deireanach roinnt airgid don scoil chun seomra ranga a chur leis an scoil ach tá dhá sheomra réamhdhéanta ann. Cé nach bhfuil an tAire anseo anocht, táim cinnte gur cuimhin leis an gheallúint a thug sé i nGaillimh agus é ag comhdháil Phairtí an Lucht Oibre go bhfaigheadh sé réidh leis na seomraí réamhdhéanta uilig agus nach bhfágfaí ann iad. Tá péire i gceist sa scoil seo: seomra ranga buan agus seomra tacaíochta foghlama. Ní bhfaighidh siad réidh leis an dá sheomra réamhdhéanta leis an airgead atá curtha ar fáil faoi láthair. Mar sin, d'iarrfainn air cur leis an deontas atá ceadaithe don scoil.

Ar €254,000 breise, bheifí in ann céim 1, 2 agus 3 den obair bhreise atá le déanamh a dhéanamh. Ar €790,000 d'fhéadfaí an rud a chríochnú amach uilig agus seomra ilúsáid, nó GP room mar a tugtar air i mBéarla, a chur ar fáil. Chuirfeadh sé sin barr slacht ar an scoil seo agus ní thiocfaí in aice leis an Aire go ceann i bhfad ina dhiaidh sin mar bheadh cóiríocht cheart ar an scoil.

Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, nuair a bhí bunáite na scoileanna á dhéanamh cuireadh deontais bhreise ar fáil faoin Rialtas deiridh agus tugadh deis do scoileanna an cóiríocht a thabhairt suas don chaighdeán cheart le nach mbeadh aon ghá le tuilleadh airgid chaipitil a chaitheamh ar bhunáite na scoileanna beaga ar fud na tíre go ceann i bhfad.

D'impóinn ar an Aire Stáit dea-scéal a thabhairt dom, ar a laghad go dtiocfadh sé siar agus go mbreathnódh sé ar an scoil. B'fhearr i bhfad liom go sábhalfadh sé an t-aistear air féin agus go gceadódh sé an t-airgead. Déanfaidh mé cinnte go bhfaighidh sé cuireadh len í a oscailt má dhéanann sé é sin. Ba bhreá liom é a fheiceáil thiar. Bhí an-lá againn nuair a bhí muid thiar i Leitir Mealláin. Beidh ceiliúradh mór againn arís nuair a osclóidh sé athchóiriú iomlán na scoile seo agus nuair a bheidh sé in ann é seo a leanas a rá. "Bhí mise ceart. Rinne mé an beart. Thug mé an t-airgead. Tá Scoil an Bhaile Nua ar cheann des na scoileanna is stairiúla i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe agus tá cóiriú curtha agamsa air." Níl mórán scoileanna beaga mar seo fágtha againn don Aire Stáit. Seo an seans deiridh atá aige.

Beidh mé ag siúl le dea-scéala, ar a laghad go dtiocfaidh an t-Aire Stáit siar. Ach b'fhearr i bhfad an t-airgead a cheadú agus teacht agus í a oscailt.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon)

Tá mé ag tabhairt freagra ar an ábhar seo thar ceann mo chomhghleacaí, an tAire Oideachais agus Scileanna, an Teachta Ruairí Quinn. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Ó Cuív faoin ábhar seo a tharraingt anuas mar go dtugann sé deis dom straitéis an Rialtais maidir le hinfheistíocht chaipitil i dtionscadail oideachais a leagan amach, chomh maith le soiléireacht a thabhairt ar chúrsaí mar atá faoi láthair maidir le Scoil Bhaile Nua, Maigh Cuilinn.

Mar is eol don Teachta Ó Cuív rinne údaras na scoile iarratas ar mhórmhaoiniú caipitil le síneadh a chur leis an scoil agus athrú a dhéanamh uirthi chomh maith le hobair athchóirithe. Mar chuid den phroiséas measúnaithe sanntar rátáil banda do thionscadail tógála ar scála mór de réir na gcritéir tosaíochta atá foilsithe. Ba i ndiaidh comhchomhairle le pairtnéiri oideachais a leagadh amach na critéir seo. Is de réir na rátála banda a thugtar dó a ghluaiseann tionscadal tógála tríd an gcóras. Tá ceithre rátáil banda ann, banda 1 an ceann is airde agus banda a 4 an ceann is ísle. Rátáil banda 2.5 atá tugtha do thionscadal Scoil Bhaile Nua. Bíonn dul chun cinn gach tionscadal tógála ar scála mór, lena n-áiritear an tionscadal seo ón gcéim deartha tosaigh go dtí an chéim tógála, ag brath ar an mhaoiniú a bhíonn ar fáil faoi chlár ilbhliantúil tógála agus nuachóirithe scoileanna na Roinne agus ar an éileamh atá ar an mhaoiniú seo.

Nuair a bhí an t-iarratas dá dtagraítear dó thuas faighte, rinne an scoil iarratas i Márta 2010 ar sheomra eile breise príomhshrutha. Cheadaigh an Roinn an deontas don seomra ranga sin agus tá 70% den deontas tarraingthe ag an scoil go dtí seo. Tá ceathrar múinteoirí i Scoil Bhaile Nua. Anois go bhfuil an seomra ranga breise sin ceadaithe beidh ceithre sheomra ranga príomhshrutha sa scoil agus seomra eile a mbainfear leas as mar sheomra acmhainne/ilchuspóire.

I Meán Fómhair 2010 rinne údarás na scoile iarratas ar mhaoiniú suntasach breise chun seomra a chur in áit sheomra ranga sealadach, le seomraí ranga atá ann cheana a mhéadú agus le cóiríocht choimhdeach a sholáthar, lena n-áirítear seomra ilfhointeach. Cuireadh in iúl d'údarás na scoile nach bhféadfaí an t-iarratas sin a éascu ag an am.

Creideann an Roinn go bhfuil cóiríocht na scoile mar atá faoi láthair leordhóthanach le freastal ar riachtanais riachtanacha na scoile ó thaobh seomraí ranga príomhshrutha agus tacaíocht foghlama dhe.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta as an deis seo a thabhairt dom an staid reatha maidir le hiarratas ar mhaoiniú do thionscadal tógála Scoil Bhaile Nua a leagan amach don Teach.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Impím ar an Aire Stáit cuairt a thabhairt ar an scoil go bhfeicfeadh sé í. Freagra Státseirbhíseach atá tugtha aige.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Michael McCarthy)

Deputy Ó Cuív, you are long enough in the House to know you cannot do that.

Schools Building Projects

Deputy Martin Ferris

At the outset, I will give a brief history of Dromclough national school. On the recommendation of a Department inspector, Dr. Pádraig Ó Donnabháin, an application for an extension to the school building was submitted to the Department building unit in 2002. In January 2003, a detailed comprehensive application was submitted to the Department for a major refurbishment and extension to the school. In June 2004, as no progress had manifested, a small Portakabin was purchased and divided into three cubicles to provide accommodation of three resource and learning support areas. This Portakabin was purchased following the fundraising activities of the community. No grant assistance was furnished by the Department. The school authorities were informed by the Department that no funding was available for this project.

In January 2006, following an interim period of two years, the board of management and the local communities were elated to receive correspondence from the building unit of the Department stating that approval had been sanctioned for an eight classroom school. The board of management was advised in correspondence to expect a site visit from the Department's technical design team at a date prior to Easter 2006. If that was not possible, the board of management were assured that a site visit would take place before the commencement of the summer of 2006. However, the proposed site visit has not taken place.

While waiting for the proposed site visit, the board of management contacted the Department to seek grant assistance to extend the school car park. This request was made due to concerns regarding increased traffic flow on a narrow road at the entrance to the school and after consultation with parents and gardaí. The board of management were advised not to continue with this application as it would jeopardise the previous application for the major refurbishment and extension.

In June 2008, the board of management gratefully accepted an offer of one prefabricated building, which was no longer required by a school in the area. That school was due to be demolished because it was in such a bad condition. The board of management applied to DEIS for grant assistance of €25,000 to assist the relocation of the prefab to Dromclough national school and was grateful on receiving it.

The existing accommodation consists of three small rooms of 45 m2 that were constructed in 1964. There are three classrooms of good standard that were constructed in 1981. There is one prefabricated building that was secured in 1991 and a Portakabin, locally funded, that was added in 2004. One salvaged second-hand prefabricated building was secured in 2008.

The conditions in the school and the prefabs are deplorable. The electric wiring is dangerous and is an accident waiting to happen. The school has totally inadequate access for disabled pupils and parents. Currently, there is one pupil in the infant class whose father is wheelchair-bound. The refusal of the Department to allow the school carry out a survey is unfathomable. When the wheelchair-bound parent visits the school a temporary ramp must be fitted in place. There is no wheelchair accessible toilet or disabled parking. Security at the school is of major concern. There are 11 entrances to the school.

Dromclough national school is a very progressive school. The parents have a strong record of support for the school throughout the years. This is evidenced by the fact that a Portakabin was added to the school in 2004 for use by special needs students. The small Portakabin was divided into three sections to facilitate resource teachers and their pupils. The Portakabin was totally funded by the community.

There are 16 staff in the school. The principal carries out her managerial and administrative duties in a space that was formerly a toilet. There are no ancillary rooms, library, proper medical facilities, reception area and no storage. It will be an indictment on the previous Government and on this Government if funding is not made available immediately to proceed with the design to build a school in that area, which is long overdue. It is probably one of the worst schools in County Kerry.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

I am replying to this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills. I thank the Deputy for raising this, as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in school building projects and also to outline the current application by the school authority to provide for an extension to Dromclough national school in Listowel, County Kerry.

As the Deputy will be aware all applications for capital funding are assessed in the planning and building unit of the Department. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of school buildings, site capacity and so forth, leading to an appropriate accommodation solution. As part of the assessment process a school project is assigned a band rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. These criteria were devised following consultation with the education partners.

Under the prioritisation criteria, a proposed building project moves through the system commensurate with the band rating assigned to it. There are four band ratings overall, of which band 1 is the highest and band 4 the lowest. Band 1 projects, for example, include the provision of school accommodation where there is no existing school or where existing provision is unable to meet the demand for pupil places. A band 4 project makes provision for desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities, such as a library or new sports hall.

The project to provide for an extension and refurbishment for Dromclough national school has been assigned a band 2.2 rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. The school has a current staffing level of a principal and seven mainstream teachers. It also has the services of three learning support-resource teachers. Its accommodation comprises six mainstream permanent classrooms, two temporary mainstream classrooms and three ancillary accommodation. The school's enrolment was 193 pupils at September 2010. With regard to enrolment, there has been no change in its pupil numbers over the last five years and, therefore, the school is not experiencing the rapid increase in enrolments that have occurred in other schools around the county.

The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme for 2011 and subsequent years. However, in light of competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of this project at this time. I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to outline to the House the current position regarding the school building project for Dromclough national school, Listowel, County Kerry.

Planning Issues

Deputy Patrick O’Donovan

I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State. The reason I raise this issue is that in most rural constituencies, such as that of the Acting Chairman, one-off housing is a major part of their economic fibre. In rural areas such as Limerick county, one-off rural housing is the only construction activity taking place. Housing estates are not being built in small towns and villages and, in some instances, ghost estates lie derelict. The one thing keeping people employed in construction in rural communities is one-off housing.

The previous Government realised some people would find it increasingly difficult to exercise their planning permission, particularly for such housing. An amendment was made to the Planning and Development Acts, which was followed up by statutory instrument, to allow local authorities to grant five-year extensions to planning permissions for people who could not exercise them. The problem is that a number of local authorities have been tempted to impose additional conditions that were not applied when the original permission sought and I have confirmed this with a number of colleagues.

That is unfair, primarily because the people affected cannot afford to build. In some instances, they paid massive sums for sites and they went through various hoops and regulations to secure planning permission but now when they seek to extend it, they are running into problems. It should be borne in mind that the Department, the local authority, An Bord Pleanála and everybody else with an interest in planning and development acknowledged when planning permission was granted in principle that a house could be built on the site. Now that these people have run into economic difficulties, they are being told that they can build on the site but X, Y and Z condition is being imposed on them. That is unfair, particularly in many cases they are hard pressed economically. In some instances, they are in negative equity.

Recently, I encountered a case where the applicants had passed the percolation test for the building of a one-off rural house. The issue has made the news in recent days with the proposal to impose a charge on septic tanks. However, these people went through the hoops and secured planning permission. A rigorous site assessment was carried out but now it appears the same local authority wants to tweak the permission slightly, which will result in a new application having to be submitted and this, in turn, will open up everything again. People in other counties who have no connection to the site will have carte blanche to object. That is grossly unfair.

I can anticipate the Minister of State's reply because I have been issued with similar responses to parliamentary questions but there is scope in this regard. The spirit of the amendment to the legislation was intended to help those who are hard pressed economically and who cannot at the moment exercise their permission. There are ghost estates around the country but we are in danger of creating ghost houses where houses will be built to ridge height but the owners will not install windows or kit the property out because they cannot afford to do so. This will be a huge issue in rural communities over the next five years.

I intend raising this issue at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht but I ask the Minister to revisit the spirit of the legislation. The people affected are not big developers in the National Asset Management Agency but young couples primarily who are trying to get on with their lives and who may have been made redundant or who have encountered tough economic times. Local authorities are being mean-spirited in this regard.

Will the Minister of State relay my concerns to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with a view to carrying out an audit of local authorities regarding this issue? They are using this amendment as another opportunity on which to hang the hat of anti-rural housing. The Minister's predecessor, a member of the Green Party, had an anti-one-off rural house agenda and I would hate to think the Government will carry on this.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Fergus O’Dowd)

I am pleased to have the opportunity today to discuss the provisions of the planning code as they relate to the scope to seek to extend planning permissions.

Section 28 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 amended section 42 of the Planning Act 2000 to provide that the duration of a planning permission may be extended where substantial works have not been done, or where the development has not even commenced, in cases where the planning authority is satisfied that there were considerations of a commercial, economic or technical nature beyond the control of the applicant which substantially militated against either the commencement of development or the carrying out of substantial works. This is pursuant to the terms of the planning permission, provided that an application complying with the relevant regulations was made before the expiration of the original permission.

This provision is, however, subject to the following qualifications. The planning authority must be satisfied that there have been no significant changes in the development objectives in the development plan or in regional development objectives in the relevant regional planning guidelines since the date of the permission, such that the development would no longer be consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. The planning authority must be satisfied that the development would not be inconsistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to any guidelines issued by the Minister under section 28, such as those dealing with flood risk management, even if those guidelines were issued after the date of the grant of permission. Finally, the planning authority must be satisfied, where the development has not commenced, that an environmental impact assessment, or a habitats directive appropriately assessed, or both of those assessments, if required, was or were carried out before the permission was granted.

In extending the duration of permission under the new provision, it is open to a planning authority to attach conditions requiring the giving of adequate security for the satisfactory completion of the proposed development. Planning authorities may also add to or vary any conditions regarding security to which the permission is already subject under section 34(4)(g) of the Planning Acts. This type of condition — a condition requiring a bond, or a further bond — is the only condition that may be attached to an extension of permission. A planning authority may not, when granting an extension, vary the initial permission in any other way.

The previous provisions in section 42 of the Planning Act 2000 remain in force, allowing an extension of permission to be automatically granted on application, in a case where substantial works have been carried out within the original duration, subject only to the condition that an application, complying with the relevant planning regulations, was made before the expiration of the initial period.

I consider that the new provision strikes an appropriate balance. It is proper and prudent practice that in cases where substantial works have not been carried out, the duration of permission should be re-assessed against the current planning policies and legislation in force at the time. The duration of permission should not be extended in respect of developments for which the planning authority would now refuse permission if an application were submitted de novo.

The Dáil adjourned at 8.55 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 29 June 2011.

Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 28 Jun 2011