Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
123 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation with respect to development proposals for two primary schools (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26043/04]
View answerThe school planning section of my Department has been engaged in an assessment of primary education provision in Blessington. This was necessary to ensure that this rapidly developing town can continue to meet emerging demands.
On foot of the Department's analysis it is proposed to reconfigure Scoil Mhuire into a 16-classroom junior school. It will remain at its current location. Senior primary classes will be catered for through the provision of a brand new 16-classroom school. The new school will be called St. Mary's senior school and will be located on agreenfield site that my Department acquired recently. Both schools will be co-educational.
The needs of the Blessington No. 1 school have also been examined. A new school on a greenfield site has been determined as the optimum strategy to position this school to meet its needs going forward. Efforts to acquire a site for the new school are ongoing.
I am aware that a developer has submitted proposals to the management authorities of both Blessington No. 1 school and St. Mary's senior school concerning the delivery of the two schools. These proposals are currently being examined by officials in the school planning section of the Department. As soon as decisions are taken regarding these proposals, my officials will be in direct contact with all relevant parties.
I thank the Minister for her reply. Will she confirm when the decision will be made on the offer made by the developer willing to build the schools? Do I understand correctly that if that offer is not accepted, the Department will give sanction to the 16-classroom school for St. Mary's but not the No. 1 school? If memory serves me correctly, sanction was granted for that 16-classroom school approximately two years ago.
We encourage all sorts of innovative thinking on the delivery of schools, particularly in fast growing areas like Blessington. However, the Deputy is aware that it is my responsibility to comply with all public procurement procedures. We must ensure that any proposals put forward do not offend these procedures, that there is good value for money and that we can stand over any decisions made. I know the Deputy will accept that these matters are commercially sensitive. However, we are committed to ensuring we meet the needs of the children in the Blessington area.
