Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:325. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school extension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36503/18]
View answerSchool Accommodation Provision
Questions (325)
Written answers
The building project to which the Deputy refers is nearing completion. A small number of snagging and defects issues remain to be resolved. It is expected that Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board will take possession of the extension upon satisfactory completion of these works.
School Accommodation Provision
Questions (326)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:326. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school extension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36504/18]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers is on my Department's six year capital programme. The intention is that the project will be devolved for delivery to an outside agency. Arrangements are currently being made with the agency to facilitate this and, once these arrangements are in place, the next step for the project is the appointment a Design Team who will bring the project through the design and construction phases.
School Accommodation Provision
Questions (327)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:327. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school extension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36505/18]
View answerWritten answers
This project is currently at Stage 2B of Architectural Planning. Planning Permission has been received and the Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate have been granted.
The Department has recently authorised the project to proceed to pre-qualification of contractors. The school was informed of the timeframe for progression of the project to tender stage and construction and the steps involved.
This major building project is included on the Department’s 6 year Construction Programme 2016-21.
School Accommodation Provision
Questions (328)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:328. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school extension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36506/18]
View answerWritten answers
This project is currently at Stage 2B of Architectural Planning. Planning Permission has been received and the Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate have been granted.
The Department has recently authorised the project to proceed to pre-qualification of contractors. The school was informed of the timeframe for progression of the project to tender stage and construction stage and the steps involved.
This major building project is included on the Department’s six year Construction Programme 2016-21.
School Accommodation Provision
Questions (329)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:329. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school extension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36507/18]
View answerWritten answers
The brief for this project comprises the construction of a new multi-storey extension of approximately 2,972m2, and demolition of the existing school.
The project is currently at stage 2a of architectural planning. After the last stakeholders meeting comments were issued to the design team for follow up. The Department also approved funding for acoustic and landscape consultants to assist with the development of the scheme.
Once Stage 2a is complete, the Department will contact the school with regard to the further progression of the project. This major building project is included on the Department’s six year construction programme 2016-21.
School Accommodation Provision
Questions (330)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:330. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school extension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36508/18]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers is on my Department's six year capital programme. The intention is that the project will be devolved for delivery to an outside agency. Arrangements are currently being made with the agency to facilitate this and, once these arrangements are in place, the next step for the project is the appointment a design team who will bring the project through the design and construction phases.
Teacher Supply
Questions (331)
John Curran
Question:331. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the teacher supply steering group last met; the recommendations and actions proposed by the group that should be immediately implemented to improve the situation that many schools experienced in 2017 in obtaining substitute teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36526/18]
View answerWritten answers
Earlier this year I established the teacher supply steering group, to which the Deputy refers. The group is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and it last met on 29 June.
The steering group is considering the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; data/research requirements; policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; and promotion of the teaching profession. The steering group will oversee a programme of actions according to strict timelines and clear deliverables. In undertaking its task, the group is cognisant of the requirement that all persons wishing to teach in recognised schools must meet the professional registration standards and criteria set by the Teaching Council, which is the professional regulatory body for the teaching profession.
In the last two years we have hired 5,000 additional new teachers. It is the case that many teachers who would have been available to carry out substitute work are now gaining permanent and long term contracts and I am aware that some schools experienced difficulties in finding substitute teachers in 2017.
In order to ease the situation, in the last school year I suspended the limits that teachers on career break can work as substitutes. Schools were also reminded that, in considering career break applications, the needs of pupils should take precedence and they must take account of the availability of appropriate qualified replacement teachers.
The steering group is due to meet again on 10 September. At this point the steering group and the working groups reporting to it have met on a number of occasions and I hope to be in a position to announce further measures to support teacher supply over the coming months.
State Properties
Questions (332)
John Curran
Question:332. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in releasing his Department's interest in a building (details supplied) which is to be acquired and used as a community facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36527/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department received a request to release my interest in the property referred to by the Deputy. I can confirm that I have no objection to the request. The Chief State Solicitor's Office has been instructed in the matter and a deed of surrender has been prepared.
On receipt of an executed declaration of trust which is awaited from the property owner's legal representatives, the process will be finalised and the executed deed of surrender will be issued to the property owner's legal representatives.
Speech and Language Therapy Provision
Questions (333)
John Curran
Question:333. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made on the commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government to introduce a new school speech and language therapy service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36528/18]
View answerWritten answers
In keeping with the commitment contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce a new school speech and language therapy service, I recently announced that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services will be introduced for the 2018/19 school year.
The project will be managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education.
The demonstration project is being developed by a Working Group which includes representatives from the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health Service Executive.
The purpose of the project is to test a model of tailored therapeutic supports that allows for early intervention in terms of providing speech and language and occupational therapy within "educational settings". This innovative pilot will complement existing HSE funded provision of essential therapy services.
The project is taking place in the Health Service Executive community healthcare organisation 7 region of south west Dublin, Kildare and west Wicklow.
This region has been selected to ensure that the pre-school and in-school therapy model can be tested in both urban and rural locations and with a suitable mix of various types of schools and pre-schools. The schools selected will therefore be from this region.
75 schools, including a representative sample of primary, post primary, and special schools will take part in the project.
This will include:
- Schools with significant levels of educational disadvantage.
- A mixture of urban, large, and small schools.
- Schools with high levels of support needs as identified under the new special education teaching allocation model.
- Mainstream schools which have special classes
- Special schools with significant levels of therapy support needs.
- Schools of various types including Irish medium schools.
An additional 75 pre-school settings associated with primary schools participating in the project are also being included in order to provide for therapy interventions to be made at the earliest possible time and to create linkages between pre-school and primary school provision. Therefore 150 early years or school settings will be included in the pilot. The list of the participating schools and preschools has now been published on my Departments website.
Decisions in relation to the extension of the service to other areas or counties, or to extend the service nationally, will be taken following an evaluation of the existing informed pilot phase.
Schools Establishment
Questions (334)
James Browne
Question:334. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the development of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36543/18]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. Subject to no issues arising the project is expected to commence construction in the fourth quarter of 2018.
School Staff
Questions (335)
James Browne
Question:335. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the County Wexford schools with a teaching principal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36545/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish education system has certain characteristics that have influenced the evolution of the principal’s role. The distribution of the population necessitates a relatively large number of small primary schools. In the case of principals in smaller schools, while management and administration duties may be smaller in scale than those of larger schools, they must be undertaken in addition to their full-time teaching duties.
The enrolment required for administrative principal in ordinary schools, gaelscoileanna and schools in the Gaeltacht is 176 pupils, or 113 if operating a specialist autism unit.
Schools that have less than this enrolment have teaching principals. Recently published Circular 40/2018 is available on the Department’s website, which outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be undertaken by the teaching principal.
Building on measures in previous budgets to enhance school leadership, Budget 2018 made €0.4 million available to fund almost 4,600 additional release days for teaching principals in primary schools. This additional funding will see an increase in the number of release days available to teaching principals in the 2018/19 school year to 17, 23 or 29 days depending on the size of the school.
While the principal is ultimately responsible to the board of management for the management and leadership of the school, the deputy principal occupies a position of vital importance within the senior leadership team in each school. The deputy principal co-operates with the principal in the fulfilment of the principal's role and acts or deputises as the principal in the principal's absence.
I recently announced an extension to the arrangements for schools with teaching principals to cluster their release days into full-time posts, with one teacher covering the release days of all the schools in the cluster. Up to 50 principal release cluster posts will be put in place for the 2018/19 school year. This measure will assist teaching principals to more effectively plan their release days for the benefit of the school.
Following is the breakdown of the number of teaching principals in primary schools in Wexford, as requested.
Number of schools with teaching principals:
|
County: |
Number of teaching principals in the 2017/18 school year: |
|
Wexford |
59 |
School Roll Number and name:
|
Roll No.: |
School Name: |
|
05070W |
S.N. Baile Muirne |
|
06959G |
Clonroche N.S. |
|
09184L |
Shielbeggan Convent |
|
10780L |
Ballyoughter N.S. |
|
11380A |
Caime N.S. |
|
12841P |
St Patrick's N.S. |
|
13299E |
Glanbrian N.S. |
|
13335F |
Court N.S. |
|
13999J |
Kilnamanagh N.S. |
|
14492D |
Curracloe N.S. |
|
14668O |
Ballaghkeene N.S. |
|
14777T |
Kilmyshall N.S. |
|
14900P |
Gusserane N.S. |
|
14909K |
St Leonards N.S. |
|
15177A |
Carrigduff N.S. |
|
15354T |
Camolin N.S. |
|
15407O |
S.N. Baile Thomais |
|
15419V |
Oulart N.S. |
|
15937U |
Monaseed N.S. |
|
15940J |
Tombrack N.S. |
|
15948C |
Clologue N.S. |
|
15962T |
Ballindaggin N.S. |
|
16072O |
Newbawn N.S. |
|
16828U |
S.N. Bearna Na h-Aille |
|
16833N |
S.N. Cill T-Sile |
|
16992K |
Clongeen Mxd N.S. |
|
17117P |
S.N. Cul Greine |
|
17194K |
S.N. Baile Ui Coileain |
|
17354G |
S.N. Padraig |
|
17510R |
S.N. Treasa Nfa |
|
17519M |
S.N. Caislean Dochraill |
|
Roll No.: |
School Name: |
|
17526J |
S.N. Abbain |
|
17554O |
S.N. Nmh Seosaimh |
|
17610V |
S.N. Baile Fada |
|
17612C |
St Garvans N.S. |
|
17638U |
S.N. Nmh Seosaimh |
|
17656W |
S.N. Olibheir Beannuithe |
|
17707N |
S.N. Rath An Iubhair |
|
17734Q |
S.N. Gallbhaile |
|
17768K |
Scoil Ghormáin Naofa |
|
17769M |
S.N. Mhuire |
|
17812K |
St Marys N.S. |
|
17841R |
S.N. Mhuire |
|
17858L |
S.N. Coill An Iarainn |
|
18010C |
Davidstown Primary School |
|
18133S |
Fionntain Naofa N.S. |
|
18191J |
S.N. Raithin |
|
18308E |
S.N. Moin Na Gcaor |
|
18315B |
S.N. Padraig Nfa |
|
18336J |
Boolavogue N.S. |
|
18387D |
S.N. Catriona Naofa |
|
18687P |
Ballyduff N.S. |
|
18714P |
St Edans N.S. |
|
18824W |
St Iberius N.S. |
|
18839M |
S.N. Na Scrine |
|
19528A |
Ramsgrange Central N.S. |
|
19741A |
Scoil Mhuire |
|
20333P |
Wexford ETNS |
|
20458M |
New Ross ETNS |
Maternity Protection Entitlements
Questions (336, 337)
Declan Breathnach
Question:336. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the delay in implementing breastfeeding breaks for teachers as agreed upon by the teachers conciliation council at its meeting of 8 May 2018; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that it was agreed that breastfeeding breaks would be extended until 104 weeks after the birth of the child and that such breaks would be covered under the supervision and substitution scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under Circular 31/06 employees of the Civil Service have been entitled to breastfeeding breaks since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36561/18]
View answerJames Browne
Question:337. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the allowance for breastfeeding breaks for children up to two years of age will be increased in view of recent teaching union motions; the position regarding this conditional leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36580/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together.
The current provisions for breastfeeding breaks are set out in paragraph 13, chapter 4 – Maternity Protection Entitlements, Terms and Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools – edition 2 issued by my Department. Paragraph 13.1 states:
“13.1 Within a twenty six week period after the birth of the child, a teacher who has returned to work is entitled to one hour per day for the purpose of breastfeeding. The time off, without loss of pay, may be taken as follows:
(a) one break of 60 minutes, or
(b) two breaks of 30 minutes each, or
(c) three breaks of 20 minutes each”
My Department intends to issue a circular on breastfeeding breaks for teachers following recent agreement at the Teachers’ Conciliation Council, TCC. The TCC is part of the scheme of conciliation and arbitration for teachers and was set up to deal with claims and proposals relating to the terms and conditions of employment of teachers. The council is composed of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
School Funding
Questions (338)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:338. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full year cost of funding schools in order to allow them to abolish the voluntary contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36588/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides funding to support the day to day running costs of schools through capitation and ancillary funding.
Restoring capitation funding as resources permit is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education and I remain committed to achieving this. However, I must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures and prioritise where it is not possible to do everything that I would like to do in the education sector in any one year. In the last two budgets, I made provision for 6,000 extra teachers and 3,000 extra SNAs and over 3,000 new middle management posts. These resources were allocated to improve the learning experience right across the sector, with a particular focus on children with special needs.
The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2018 marked the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, which has the central aim to make the Irish education and training service the best in Europe within a decade. In 2018, the budget for the Department of Education increased by €554 million to over €10 billion. Through budget 2017 and Budget 2018, we are now investing €1 billion more in education.
Voluntary contributions to schools by parents are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to them that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition and that a child's place in the school or continued enrolment is not dependant on a willingness to make a contribution.
The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character. As voluntary contributions are used by schools for many different purposes it is not my intention to seek to abolish them.
The parent and charter bill will provide for parents to be provided better information including in relation to school accounts and the use of voluntary contributions.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Questions (339)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:339. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full year cost of abolishing apprenticeship fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36589/18]
View answerWritten answers
An annual student contribution is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology, IoTs. Previously this annual student contribution was paid by FÁS/SOLAS with apprentices themselves paying the part of the contribution relating to examination fees. As part of Budget 2014, SOLAS ceased making payments to IoTs and apprentices pay the full pro rata annual student contribution.
The amount charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in IoTs during the academic year. For craft apprenticeships, this cost would typically be one third of the €3,000 annual student contribution paid by students attending for the full academic year and so amounts to approximately €1,000 per apprentice per period spent in the IoT.
The cost of not charging the annual student contribution is estimated to be €4.2 million in 2018, although there are no plans to abolish the annual student contribution for apprentices.
Back to Education Allowance
Questions (340)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:340. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full year cost of reversing all cuts to back to education funding since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36590/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Back to Education Allowance is a scheme managed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Questions regarding costs on the scheme should be addressed to the Minister.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Questions (341)
Brian Stanley
Question:341. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available to support two ASD units in two primary schools in Mountmellick, County Laois, in which there are a number of children in need of the service. [36607/18]
View answerWritten answers
This Government is committed to ensuring every child with special educational needs has the opportunity to fulfil their full potential.
In 2018, almost €1.8 billion will be invested in special education, nearly one fifth of the overall education budget, and up 43% since 2011.
The Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including autism, ASD, in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated.
The greater proportion of children with ASD attend mainstream class, where they may access additional supports if required.
Some students with ASD, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there and placement in an ASD special class is an option for them.
Special school placements are provided for other students with ASD and very complex special needs who wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school even for part of the week.
The National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of special needs organisers, SENOs, for the development and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with special educational needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need.
Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of such classes by over 130% from 548 in 2011 to 1,456 across the country now, of which 1,192 are autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special classes. This network includes 129 ASD early intervention classes, 742 primary ASD classes and 321 post-primary ASD classes in mainstream schools.
The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.
Schools may apply to the NCSE to open a special class where a need has been identified in their area. For example where a number of students have professional reports indicating they require the support of a special class.
Before approaching a particular school to request the establishment of a special class, SENOs take into account both present and future potential need within the area and must be satisfied that the class is sustainable and appropriately located.
There are currently 23 ASD special classes at primary level in County Laois. While it is not always possible or practical that a special class placement would be available in the child’s local school, the NCSE has informed the Department that they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand in County Laois.
In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest special class that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under my Departments criteria. Most but not all children with special educational needs avail of this support.
Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement, including special class placement, should contact their local special educational needs organiser, SENO, who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list
The NCSE's planning for future projected need for special class provision in all areas of County Laois, including Mountmellick, is an on-going process. Should the NCSE identify the need to establish an ASD special class in the Mountmellick area in the future, it will consider all schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class.
In circumstances where the NCSE have identified the need for to establish a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding where the school is not a position to accommodate a special class within its existing accommodation.
My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.
Home School Community Liaison Scheme
Questions (342)
Brian Stanley
Question:342. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if home school liaison officers will be reintroduced in schools, in particular in schools for children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36609/18]
View answerWritten answers
A key priority for this government is ensuring that children with special educational needs are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
In 2018, almost €1.8 billion will be invested in Special Education, nearly one fifth of the overall Education budget, and up 43% since 2011.
All students with learning difficulties have access to additional teaching support in school. 13,400 Special Education teaching posts are available for allocation to mainstream primary and post primary schools, an increase of over 37% since 2011.
Where children have additional care needs, Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) may be allocated to schools. The SNA scheme is designed to provide recognised schools with additional adult support staff to cater for the care needs of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
By the end of this year, there will be a total of 15,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools, a 42% increase since 2011.
Other supports available to schools include:
- Over 1,300 special classes. The number of special classes has risen by 756 since 2011, including 293 new classes in the past two years.
- 124 special schools providing specialist education for approximately 7,500 pupils annually.
- Special school transport arrangements.
- An Assistive Technology scheme to provide specialist equipment.
- Enhanced capitation grants for special schools and special classes attached to mainstream primary and post primary schools.
- Modification of school buildings.
- Special arrangements for State examinations.
The range of investment in special education provision by my Department ensures that all pupils and students with special educational needs can access and participate in education.
The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Scheme is a school-based intervention provided to DEIS schools to address the needs of pupils/families in disadvantaged areas through acknowledging and developing the role of the parent as prime educator. My Department has no plans at present to extend this Scheme beyond DEIS Schools.
School Transport Appeals
Questions (343)
Niamh Smyth
Question:343. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of pupils at a school (detail supplied) will be reviewed; the reason they have not received a place on the bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36635/18]
View answerWritten answers
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
The purpose of my Department's school transport scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application process on time have been issued with tickets for the service operating into the school in question; this service is operating to capacity for the 2018/19 school year.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Under the terms of the scheme, routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis, no additional State cost will be incurred in covering the cost of providing school transport for children who are not eligible.
The terms of the school transport schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
Schools Site Acquisitions
Questions (344)
Frank O'Rourke
Question:344. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the acquisition of a site for a new school (details supplied) at Domacomper campus, Lucan Road; if planning applications will be submitted to facilitate all three schools at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36637/18]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm for the Deputy that engagement with the vendor is ongoing in respect of outstanding clarifications regarding the proposed school site to which the Deputy refers. Therefore, the appointment of a design team, and in turn, architectural planning, cannot be progressed yet but Department officials will work to do so as soon as it is possible.