Written Answers Nos. 366-382
366. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application for a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15469/18]
View answerMy Department is in the process of acquiring a site to accommodate the school to which the Deputy refers. When the site acquisition process has been progressed further, my Department will be in a position to initiate the architectural planning process for the project. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to expedite the site acquisition process.
367. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the commencement of building works for a school (details supplied); the anticipated completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15478/18]
View answerMy Department is in the process of acquiring a site to accommodate the school to which the Deputy refers. When the site acquisition process has been progressed further, my Department will be in a position to progress the project into architectural planning. At this stage it is premature to give a timeline for commencement of building works. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to expedite the site acquisition process.
368. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the commencement of building works for a school (details supplied); the anticipated completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15479/18]
View answerMaynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established, in a partnership patronage model between Kildare and Wicklow ETB and An Foras Pátrúnachta.
As part of the Major School Building Projects announcement in November 2015 and in view of the continued support for an independent Gaelcholáiste, it was confirmed that a Gaelcholáiste to serve the North Kildare area will open in 2019, subject to the continued viability of the Irish-medium Aonad at Maynooth Community College.
Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board is continuing to examine the options for accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy which will involve consideration of the timing and availability of appropriate infrastructure in the area.
My Department will continue to work closely with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to the provision of appropriate accommodation for the establishment of the school.
369. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the commencement of building works for a school (details supplied); the anticipated completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15480/18]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Stage 2(b) submission has been reviewed by my Department and a letter recently issued to the school and its Design Team advising them of a timeframe for the progression of this project. This project has been authorised to commence the Pre-Qualification of Contractors.
370. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the commencement of building works for a school (details supplied); the anticipated completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15481/18]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
The ETB is currently pre-qualifying contractors for the project.
When this process has been completed, the next steps are tender and construction. It is not possible to provide a timeline for the project until the tender process has been completed and a contract has been awarded.
371. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the commencement of building works for a school (details supplied); the anticipated completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15482/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in the Department's 6-Year Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the building project, my Department has undertaken a site visit to the school.
The building project will be devolved to Kildare Wicklow Education Training Board (KWETB) for delivery and my Department will be engaging with KWETB shortly in this regard.
372. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15483/18]
View answerMy Department is in the process of acquiring a site to accommodate the school to which the Deputy refers. When the site acquisition process has been progressed further, my Department will be in a position to initiate the architectural planning process for the project. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to expedite the site acquisition process.
373. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an assessment of an application for funding for a new build for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15484/18]
View answerMy Department has received an application for significant capital funding from the school referred to by the Deputy.
The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been concluded.
374. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding for an extension or a new build for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15485/18]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has received an application for major capital funding from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application will be considered in the context of my Department's current priority which is the provision of essential classroom accommodation in areas where significant demographic need has been established to ensure that each child will have access to a physical school place.
My Department's Capital Programme (2016-2021) continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, which includes building projects for schools in the area to which the Deputy refers.
375. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding for additional classrooms for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15486/18]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was allocated funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide four mainstream classrooms.
The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. My Department understands that the school authority has secured planning permission for the project. The next steps are tender and construction. It is a matter for the school to progress the project accordingly.
376. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding for a sports hall for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15487/18]
View answerMy Department approved funding for the provision of two additional classrooms at the school in question together with a contribution towards the conversion of existing accommodation to a multi-purpose room.
An updated Stage 2a submission (detailed design) and an updated cost plan for the project was received in February, 2018 and, since then, my Department has approved the project to proceed to planning permission application stage.
377. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application has been received for a school building for a school (details supplied); if so, if the application has been assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15488/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, on 30 January, 2017, I announced new plans aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment in this area.
While these new structures are being introduced, my Department will continue to work with the main stakeholders to progress delivery of diversity in areas already identified (of which Leixlip is one), in 2018 and beyond.
The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process for supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local families is based around principles of transparency and cooperation. Therefore, there will be a very substantial level of consultation of local communities in the process, both with the Education and Training Boards in the initial phase to establish evidence of demand by consulting pre-school parents and subsequently through the requirement for the existing patron to consult with local community and school interests in proposing to transfer patronage of an existing school to an alternative patron body.
In that process, the existing patron will also take into account proposals from all prospective multi-denominational patrons that wish to be considered. In the final instance, an application for a formal transfer of patronage will have to be made by the existing patron under the Education Act 1998, which will require my approval.
I would point out that the previous model of divestment yielded only a very limited number of schools for transfer to multi-denominational patrons (10 since 2013). I believe that the new schools reconfiguration for diversity process has the potential to significantly increase patron diversity in our school system with a target of reaching 400 multi-denominational and non-denominational schools by 2030.
378. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a review of an application for funding for the reconstruction of the schoolyard at a school (details supplied) can be carried out in view of the fact it was refused under the summer works scheme; if it will qualify under an alternative scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15489/18]
View answerThe Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium sized building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 10 application from the school in question to upgrade its play area under the SWS (2016-2017).
Funding of almost €80 million has been approved in respect of 635 schools for Categories 1 to 6 under the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017). Nearly 50% of all schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants, in respect of Categories 1 to 6 can be accessed on my Department's website www.education.ie.
The 2018 budgetary provision will allow my Department to meet the carry over costs of summer works projects already approved.
It is open to the school to use its minor works grant, which all primary schools received late last year, to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis as that grant permits if the school considers them to be a priority.
379. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a roll number will be assigned to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15490/18]
View answerI understand that the facility to which the Deputy refers provides a private service.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department identifies the requirement to establish new schools based on demographic requirements. Once it has been established from the demographic analyses that a new school, primary or post-primary, is required to meet the demographic need in a school planning area, a separate process is conducted to establish who will run the school. Under this process, the Department identifies the requirement for a new school in an area, the requirement is publicised and applications are invited from prospective patron bodies. It is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons, to apply for patronage of a new school under the patronage process. A patron body must also satisfy the Department’s requirements for establishing a new school set out in the document "New Arrangements for Patronage of New Schools” which may be accessed on my Department’s website. When the patronage has been announced and the school is established, a roll number is assigned to the school subsequently by my Department.
380. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a SUSI rule (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15492/18]
View answerVery significant numbers of third-level students move out of home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents while in full-time education. The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.
Under the Student Grant Scheme, an applicant's class is defined at his/her first point of entry to an approved higher or further education course and this will continue to apply for the duration of his/her studies.
The re-entry provision of the scheme allows mature students who have previously attended an approved course and are now entering an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, to have their status reclassified from dependent to independent student.
The duration of the break in studies required for re-classification, increased from one year to three years for the 2010/11 academic year. Under previous schemes students could be re-classified as mature students following a break of only one year. However, this was being used in some cases as a "gap year" by students whose parents' income was too high to qualify for a grant, to return after one year and resume their studies at postgraduate level, qualifying for support based on their own, rather than their parents’ income. The increase to three years was to focus resources on genuine mature students.
I have no plans at present to change the arrangements in place. Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
381. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the priority he attaches to the provision and refurbishment of sports halls in second level schools particularly in view of the introduction of sport as a leaving certificate subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15536/18]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is fully committed to providing that schools who wish to offer the new Leaving Certificate Physical Education Specification and the Senior Cycle Physical Education Framework (non-examinable) in the future will be able to do so.
The Deputy will be aware that under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings to include the building and modernisation of PE facilities in post-primary schools.
Under the Ireland Project 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion (compared to €4.9 billion in the previous decade) in primary and post primary school buildings. This will include the provision of 50 large scale school building projects and 20,000 school places in state of the art new buildings.
The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place. The government will focus in the medium term on the provision of PE facilities in schools.
