Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
245 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has identified the full extent of primary school requirements in terms of places and other facilities in Celbridge, County Kildare; her plans to address these issues at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30886/04]
View answer248 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has identified the full extent of second level school requirements in terms if places and other facilities in Celbridge, County Kildare; her plans to address these issues at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30889/04]
View answer249 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has fully evaluated primary school requirements in terms of places and other facilities in Maynooth, County Kildare; her plans to meet such requirements in full in the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30890/04]
View answer250 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has fully evaluated second level school requirements in terms of places and other facilities in Maynooth, County Kildare; her plans to meet such requirements in full in the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30891/04]
View answer251 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has fully evaluated second level school requirements in terms of places and other facilities in Kilcock, County Kildare; her plans to meet such requirements in full in the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30892/04]
View answer252 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has fully evaluated primary school requirements in terms of places and other facilities in Kilcock, County Kildare; her plans to meet such requirements in full in the foreseeable future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30893/04]
View answer273 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she expects to be in a position to meet the requirements in terms of accommodation or otherwise in each of the schools, primary and post-primary, in Celbridge, County Kildare in the course of the next 12 months arising from the provisions in the 2005 Estimates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30914/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 245, 248 to 252, inclusive, and 273 together.
Applications for capital funding from schools in Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock are being considered as part of a review of all projects which did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. Under this review, all projects are being assessed against the published prioritisation criteria which were revised earlier this year following consultation with the education partners. Each project will be assigned a band rating and the progress of all projects will be considered in the context of the school building programme from 2005 onwards.
In addition, over the remainder of this school year a new school planning model involving published draft area development plans will be piloted in five areas. Included in the pilot scheme is the area around the N4-M4 from Leixlip to Kilbeggan and included in this are Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock.
The purpose of this new approach to school planning is to ensure that, in future, the provision of school infrastructure will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, parents, trustees, sponsors of prospective new schools and all interested parties in the locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.
The commission on school accommodation recently completed the public consultation process on the draft area development plan for the N4-M4 area and it will bring forward its report as soon as possible. Applications for capital funding from schools in this area will continue to be processed under the review mentioned above. When the commission's report becomes available, the appropriate adjustments will be made where necessary.
246 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she has examined second level school requirements in the Naas, Sallins and Kill areas of County Kildare; if, arising from such assessment, specific objectives have been identified or plans put in place to meet such requirements at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30887/04]
View answer247 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she has examined primary school requirements in the Naas, Sallins and Kill areas of County Kildare; if, arising from such assessment, specific objectives have been identified or plans put in place to meet such requirements at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30888/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.
I am aware that Naas, Sallins and Kill, like many areas located within close proximity to Dublin, continue to experience population growth, a position that almost inevitably places some strain on existing educational provision. However, a range of significant measures has been undertaken by my Department to address the current and future need for pupil places in these areas.
At primary level an entire new school has been provided at Killashee, while temporary accommodation has been provided at Scoil Corbain, St. Conleth's and St. Mary's national school and St. Conleth's Naofa in Naas. Temporary accommodation has also been provided at one of the two nearby national schools at Caragh.
At Sallins national school, a seven classrooms extension is under construction. When completed, this extension will increase capacity from 9 classrooms to 16 classrooms. A brand new state of the art 16 classroom school, together with a double autistic unit is under construction in Naas town. This project, in particular, will assist in easing any difficulties for primary pupil places that may exist in Naas.
Additionally, there are proposals to improve accommodation at St. David's national school, at Kill national school and at Two Mile House national school. The accommodation needs of the national schools at Ballycane, Caragh and Convent of Mercy in Naas are also currently being assessed.
At post primary, the management authority of St. Patrick's post-primary school, County Kildare VEC, is currently progressing plans to re-locate the school and extend capacity to 1,000 pupils. Additionally, an extension project is under construction at St. Mary's College, which will increase capacity at the school to 900 pupils. A similar extension is under construction at Meánscoil Íognáid Rís and further accommodation needs at the school are currently in planning.
All of these initiatives represent huge capital investment and demonstrate my commitment to meeting the needs of the areas concerned. The school planning section of my Department will keep the position under review going forward to ensure that any additional emerging needs are met as expeditiously as possible.
