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Schools Building Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Questions (774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

786 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date in regard to the provision of permanent facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when the design team expects its work to be completed; when is it expected to proceed to the next phase of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26476/06]

View answer

Written answers

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Design Team has recently been appointed to the proposed building project at the school in question. The architectural planning phase of the new building will commence with immediate effect.

Progression of projects to tender and construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Question No. 787 answered with QuestionNo. 778.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

788 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the acquisition of a site and provision of a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when she expects the project to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26507/06]

View answer

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a suitable site for the school in question has been identified. Contract documents for the purchase of the site are in the process of being signed and are with the Vendor at present.

Progress on the new school development will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

789 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when she expects the provision of the permanent facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26508/06]

View answer

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Design Team has recently been appointed to the proposed building project at the school in question. The architectural planning phase of the new building will commence with immediate effect.

Progression of projects to tender and construction will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

790 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the schedule for the provision of the completion of the extra facilities required at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26509/06]

View answer

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question is on the 2006 School Building Programme and was authorised in March, 2006 to apply for planning permission and fire certificate and to proceed with the preparation of tender documentation for the project.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

791 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of the permanent facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26510/06]

View answer

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a tender was accepted, for the school in question, in May 2006. It is envisaged that the contact will be 12 to 15 months duration.

Question No. 792 answered with QuestionNo. 778.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

793 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to meet current and future accommodation requirements at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when she expects an announcement to be made in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26512/06]

View answer

The process of appointing a design team to the building project referred to by the Deputy is underway. An advertisement seeking design team consultants will shortly be posted on the public procurement portal: www.etenders.gov.ie

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

794 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the carrying out of improvement works to the roof at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26513/06]

View answer

In view of the presence of asbestos in the roof of the school in question, the works are being carried out under the direction of the Office of Public Works who is managing the Asbestos Remediation Programme on behalf of my Department. I understand that the contracts for the project have been signed and that work has now commenced on site.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

795 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the overall evaluation of school places at both primary and second level in the Naas, Kill and Sallins area of County Kildare; if she will ensure her Department takes the necessary steps to provide all the facilities required at the earliest possible date having particular regard to population growth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26514/06]

View answer

I am aware that Sallins, Naas, 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. In addition, a brand new 16 classroom school has been provided for Naas together with the provision of temporary accommodation at Scoil Corbáin, St. Conleth's & St. Mary's NS and St. Conleth's Naofa in Naas. Temporary accommodation has also been provided at one of the two nearby national schools at Caragh. On top of this, approval has been given to Gaelscoil Nás na Riogh, Caragh NS and Kill NS for additional accommodation for September 2006. Gaelscoil Nás na Riogh has recently been approved to commence architectural planning for the provision of a new 16-classroom school.

At Sallins National School, a seven classrooms extension is completed and this extension has increased capacity from 9 classrooms to 16 classrooms. An extension to bring the school up to 24 classrooms has commenced architectural planning.

In relation to Kill the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works has identified a suitable site for a new school. An agreement on price, subject to contract, has been reached. The contract documents were only recently received in the office of the Chief State Solicitor and they are currently being examined there.

Additionally, there are proposals to improve accommodation at St. David's National School, Two Mile House National School and Caragh National School. The accommodation needs of the national schools at Ballycane, Convent of Mercy in Naas and Scoil Pádraig in Johnstown are also currently being assessed.

At post primary level, the management authority of St. Patrick's Post Primary School, County Kildare V.E.C., is currently progressing plans to re-locate the school and extend capacity to 1000 pupil places. 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 Iognáid Rís and a further extensionat the school is currently in architectural planning.

All of these initiatives represent huge capital investment and demonstrate my commitment to meeting the needs of the area concerned. The School Planning Section of my Department will keep the position under review to ensure that any additional emerging needs are met as expeditiously as possible.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

796 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which adequate facilities have been provided for at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare having particular regard to scarcity of school places in the area and the need to make the maximum number of places available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26515/06]

View answer

As the Deputy will be aware, the school to which he refers opened in September 2005. It currently accommodates two junior infant classes. When fully occupied, the school will operate as a two-stream 16-classroom school. To enable it develop in this manner, it can only enrol two junior infant classes annually. This incremental development is common to all newly established schools to ensure that a shortage of accommodation at the school is avoided by an over enrolment in the early stages and crucially, to ensure that the enrolments and staffing levels in other schools in the area, where older pupils would inevitably be drawn, are not adversely affected.

Notwithstanding this position and as an exceptional matter, the school has been given approval to enrol three junior infant classes for the next school year on the grounds that this will not impact negatively on the other schools in question. It has also been allowed to enrol pupils in other classes if a place is not available for such pupils in existing schools. The most recent information suggests that there are some 40 such pupils.

If other eligible pupils move into the area during the new school year, I expect them to be likewise accommodated in the school in question.

Question No. 797 answered with QuestionNo. 773.
Question No. 798 answered with QuestionNo. 778.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

799 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which she has met or proposes to meet the accommodation or other facility requirements at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26518/06]

View answer

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a letter issued to the school Authorities on 19 May 2006 giving approval to proceed to stage 3 (detailed plans / costs) of architectural planning. When a response is forwarded to my Department, my Officials will then be in a position to further progress this project.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

800 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the future and location of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when she expects the project to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26519/06]

View answer

The management authority of the school in question, the Vocational Education Committee, is currently progressing plans to re-locate the school and extend capacity to 1000 pupils. A formal planning application has been lodged with the Local Authority. That Authority requested further information, which the Committees' consultants provided. A planning decision is imminent.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

801 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the schedule for the provision of the new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; when she expects all details arising from the site acquisition to be resolved, planning permission to be awarded and the conclusion of all other procedures associated with such a project; the opening date for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26520/06]

View answer

The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has identified a suitable site for the school in question.

Contract documents, for the site in question, have been received by the Chief State Solicitor's Office and are currently being examined.

As soon as the site has been acquired, the school building project can be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

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