Vol. 383 No. 1
asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the provision of extra facilities at Confey College, Leixlip, County Kildare in the current year; when a request was received in relation to the need for the extra facilities; the time span during which it could be reasonably expected that such a facility could and should be provided in this or future years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
300.
asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her intentions regarding Confey College, Leixlip, County Kildare; whether there has been any change of policy in relation to the future of the college; if it is intended to proceed with the provision of a permanent structure as already indicated; the total number of places to be provided in the school; the current position regarding the various planning stages to be gone through prior to the provision of a permanent structure; whether any or all of such stages have been processed to date; if not, if she will ensure the expeditious processing of these stages; when a permanent structure is likely to be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
301.
asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the current year in providing extra accommodation and facilities at Confey College, Confey, Leixlip, County Kildare; if her attention has been drawn to the serious hardship caused to pupils, parents and teachers as a result of this delay; whether similar delays will occur in future years and if she will make a statement on the matter.
304.
asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her current intentions regarding the provision of a permanent structure at Confey College, Leixlip, County Kildare; whether there has been any modification in relation to the original proposal to provide a permanent college; the year in which a permanent structure will be available; when construction is likely to start; when the various planning stages will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 299, 300, 301 and 304 together.
As the post-primary school at Confey is a community college the responsibility for providing the necessary accommodation for the pupils of the school rests in the first instance with County Kildare Vocational Education Committee.
The necessary approval to provide temporary accommodation for the current school session was given to the vocational education committee by my Department on 1 July 1988. Provision for future years has already been the subject of discussion between the school authorities and my Department. I wish to assure the Deputy that approval to provide such accommodation will be given to the VEC in ample time to allow the school to cater for the expected increased enrolment.
The position in regard to the permanent structure is that I have authorised the VEC to proceed on the basis of providing a permanent school building to cater for 600 pupils in the long term. The relevant schedule of accommodation has been prepared by my Department and has recently been forwarded to County Kildare VEC for their agreement. A site report has also been requested. As soon as the schedule has been agreed and the site report furnished by the VEC's design team, my Department will arrange a briefing meeting with the design team with a view to proceeding with the architectural planning of the project.
The following are the stages of the planning process:—Stage 1: Site Report; Stage 2: Outline Sketch Scheme; Stage 3: Developed Sketch Scheme; Stage 4: Working Drawings; Stage 5: Bills of Quantities; Stage 6: Seeking of Tenders; Stage 7: Placing of Contract.
It is not possible to indicate at this time when the various planning stages will be finalised or when construction will commence and be completed as the timescale depends mainly on factors outside the control of my Department. The rate of progress will also depend on the availability of capital resources.
302.
asked the Minister for Education when she will allow the proposal for the provision for a co-educational post-primary school in Kilcock, County Kildare; the current planning stages at which the project stands; the date by which the structure is likely to be provided; the necessary planning stages already processed and still to be processed; if she will give a reassurance that the project is to proceed as originally indicated; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I have recently examined the position of this project in the context of the second-level capital programme for 1988 and I have decided that the architectural planning will be further advanced during the course of this year. The project is currently at stage 4 — working drawings—and, as soon as the examination of this is completed, processing of stage 5 — bills of quantities — will commence.
The following stages of planning have already been processed: 1. Site Report; 2. Outline Sketch Scheme; 3. Developed Sketch Scheme.
The other stages of architectural planning are: 4. Working Drawings; 5. Bills of Quantities; 6. Seeking of Tenders; 7. Placing of Contract.
It is not possible to indicate at this time the precise date when construction work will be completed. The rate of progress, as in the case of all other second level building projects, is dependent on the availability of capital resources and on my Department's other commitments and priorities.
