Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021
215. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the details of the contingency plan for a school (details supplied) in relation to alternative temporary accommodation for the beginning of the new school term in August 2021. [29043/21]
View answer216. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the contingency arrangements for a school (details supplied) will be sourced locally; if so, the location; the number of classrooms and other ancillary rooms that will be made available to the school; the length of time the school will have to remain at the location; when will the official temporary buildings be ready for the school to move into; and if the school leaders and board of management will be included in these discussions. [29044/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together.
The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme.
A planning application for interim accommodation for the school on its permanent site was lodged on the 26th May 2021 and instructions have issued to the Project Manager overseeing the delivery of the interim accommodation to proceed with the procurement arrangements under my Department’s new Modular Buildings Framework.
There was a delay involved in obtaining a necessary legal consent from an adjacent landowner in order to lodge the planning application and as a result, my Department is putting in place contingency arrangements for the school to be located in suitable interim accommodation at the Firhouse Community College site from August 2021 for a maximum of one academic year. This has been relayed to the DDLETB as the school’s Patron body.
The interim accommodation, which includes specialist classrooms, SEN provision and ancillary accommodation, will be installed on the Firhouse Community College site for the beginning of the 2021/22 school year using the planning exemption secured in March 2021.
It is the Department’s intention that the school will move into the interim accommodation on its permanent site as early as possible in the 2021/22 academic year and that the vacated interim accommodation on the Firhouse Community College site will remain on site and will be available for use by Firhouse Community College as provided for under the exemption. The Department is committed to adhering to this timeline.
My Department will continue to keep the patron body and the school informed.
