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Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2005

Tuesday, 8 February 2005

Questions (410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415)

Mary Upton

Question:

463 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on class sizes at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8 of over 30 students; and the position regarding the school buildings application for this school. [3404/05]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, the staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The guidelines can only be deviated from where a school experiences rapid growth in its enrolment. In such cases, an additional post, referred to as a developing school post, may be sanctioned occasionally where the projected enrolment at 30 September of the school year in question equals or exceeds a specified figure. If the specified figure is not achieved on 30 September, sanction for the post is withdrawn.

The staffing schedule is structured to ensure that all primary schools will operate to an average mainstream class size of 29 pupils. School authorities should ensure that there is an equitable distribution of pupils in mainstream classes and that the differential between the largest and the smallest classes is kept to a minimum.

The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the current school year is a principal and five mainstream class teachers based on an enrolment of 155 pupils on 30 September 2003. The school was also granted a developing post for the 2004-05 school year on the basis of a projected enrolment of 180 pupils. In addition, the school has a resource post and a language support post.

According to data submitted to my Department by the board of management the enrolment on 30 September 2004 was 180 pupils. The staffing for the 2005-06 school year will be determined on the basis of this figure in accordance with the agreed staffing schedule which is expected to be notified to boards of management in February-March 2005.

With regard to the proposed building project for the school in question, this has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners and its progress is being considered in the context of the 2005 school building programme.

The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005. This announcement is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period on the schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning.

Dan Neville

Question:

464 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the completion of the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Limerick. [3405/05]

View answer

An extension and refurbishment project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners and the project is being considered for the 2005 school building programme.

The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005. This announcement is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period in relation to the schools building and modernisation programme that will include: details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning.

John Cregan

Question:

465 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation and the reason for the delay in relation to the opening of a school for autistic children (details supplied); the capital funds which have been supplied for the project; the funds towards rent to the landlord of the existing national school which have been paid by her Department; the reason and the person on whose behalf the landlord is seeking a higher rent; and if her Department will broker a deal, and make extra funds available in order to open this badly needed facility. [3408/05]

View answer

I wish to inform the Deputy that the unit to which he refers is currently operating and receives an annual funding allocation from my Department. The unit currently caters for 24 children on the autistic spectrum and wishes to put additional accommodation in place to cater for a further six children. As the Deputy is aware the unit is located on the grounds of a primary school but operates separately from that school.

The school building section of my Department sanctioned a grant of €78,769 in July 2004 to the school in which the unit is located to enable it to provide the additional required accommodation. This amount was 100% of the total cost of the building work involved to cater for these additional children. To date this grant has not been drawn down by the school. When the additional accommodation is in place, the unit will be able to cater for 30 children.

The school in which the unit is located has sought a financial contribution from the Department in consideration of its allowing the unit to operate on the school site. In this regard my Department has recently written to the chairperson of the board of management of the school with proposals to address the issue raised by the school. My officials are awaiting a response from the school to the proposals that have been made.

John Perry

Question:

466 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science when the much needed extra classroom will be sanctioned for a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; if she will report on the negotiations that have taken place; the amount of funding that will be granted; when work will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3418/05]

View answer

An extension project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners and the project is being considered for the 2005 school building programme.

The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005. This announcement is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period on the schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning.

John Perry

Question:

467 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 111 pupils in a school (details supplied) who are in totally inadequate facilities; when she will authorise work to commence on the new school; the timescale involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3419/05]

View answer

The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. I recently announced details of 122 major school building projects that will progress to tender and construction phase over the next 12 to 15 months under the €3.4 billion multi-annual funding secured for the years 2005-09.

I am anxious to ensure that a consistent flow of projects to tender and construction can be sustained into the future. I plan to make a number of announcements in the near future on the 2005 schools building and modernisation programme including details of those school projects which will further progress through the design process. All projects in architectural planning, including the school in question, will be considered as part of this process.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

468 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary and post primary schools in County Meath which have applications for consideration at her Department for building improvements and repairs and for building extensions; the number of schools in County Meath which will receive grant assistance in 2005 for building improvements and repairs and for extensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3458/05]

View answer

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, if the Deputy has a query about a specific school, I would be happy to provide the information for him.

The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare tenders and move to construction during 2005. This announcement is the first in a series of announcements I plan to make in the coming period on the schools building and modernisation programme that will include details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning.

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