Michael Healy-Rae
Question:390. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a new school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16279/13]
View answerTuesday, 16 April 2013
Questions (390, 394, 413)
Tom Fleming
Question:394. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he and his Department will immediately honour a contract to purchase a site for a new school to replace a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will take into consideration the health and safety issues affecting this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16353/13]
View answer
Brendan Griffin
Question:413. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a new school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16572/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 394 and 413 together.
The school referred to by the Deputies has an application with my Department for large scale capital funding for a replacement school building. In this regard, a greenfield site has been identified by my Department. The current status of all schools on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
The Deputies will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. Given the need to meet demographic growth, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years. In this context, it is not possible to indicate at this point when a building project for the school in question will be progressed.
In the meantime, a technical visit was very recently carried out by my Department to examine the schools current accomodation issues. My officials will be in direct contact with the school authority concerned when the outcome of this visit has been considered.