The school referred to by the Deputy opened in 2015 in an existing school building. In September 2016, the school relocated to a council owned site in temporary accommodation purchased by the Department. The total cost of this accommodation including furniture and equipment/ICT amounted to €3,310,125.
In 2018, my Department approved grant for additional rented accommodation at a cost of €115,128 per annum. The associated installation costs of this accommodation was €235,220.
In addition, my Department approved the purchase of further temporary accommodation for the 2020 and 2021 school years. Part of this accommodation was installed for the start of the 2020/21 school year with the remainder due to be installed in the new year. The total cost of this accommodation amounts to €3,816,975. Since 2017, my Department is also providing funding of €50,000 per annum for the rental of the site where this accommodation is located, which is in the ownership of the local authority.
With regard to the provision of permanent accommodation for the school, my Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site for the construction of a permanent building for this school. The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. When acquired, the architectural planning process for the new school can be initiated.
My Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including the school planning area in which this school is located.
Where capacity issues arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.
Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including those in County Kildare, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action.
