Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Dec 2007

Vol. 643 No. 2

Adjournment Debate.

Schools Building Projects.

Deputy James Bannon

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me time to speak on this important matter, namely, the need for the Minister for Education and Science to give an update on the application by St. Joseph's national school, Rathwire, Killucan, County Westmeath, for a new school building in light of increased enrolment and the rapid growth of the local population. I have already received a reply to a parliamentary question on this issue and, while I appreciate the Minister's agreement that additional accommodation will be required at the school to cater for the increase in enrolments due to the current and planned housing developments in the area, her overall response has not been satisfactory.

Outlining the investments due under the new national development plan is rather like telling children about Christmas and the presents Santa Claus is going to bring but then saying it does not apply to them. Promises about school building programmes in the past ten years have brought little in the way of results for many of our schools. I want to see a firm commitment to St. Joseph's school, which is bursting at the seams of its substandard buildings.

This fine school is a victim of its own success and the rapid expansion of the area. The population of the county has increased by 20% in the past ten years. The official enrolment at the end of September was 164 pupils and this is expected to increase to 175 by Christmas, with 19 more already enrolled for next September. By 2010 an enrolment of 400 or more is expected. Staff numbers at the school have increased from four to six teachers, in addition to the principal. The school is a valuable community asset but its future rests on the improvement of the built environment, which cannot be ignored by the Government. The school has been given a four acre site by the Bishop of Meath and all that is needed now is Government funding for the new building. Westmeath County Council will give all the assistance necessary to facilitate the advancement of the project.

The school's current classrooms are too small, with 32 pupils accommodated in 40 square meters. Three pre-fabs are being utilised to ease the pressure on space. Many pupils throughout the country have spent their school days in pre-fab accommodation but I do not want to see that happen to the children of Rathwire. Since 2000, the Government has spent €111 million on temporary accommodation instead of permanent classrooms despite warnings from the State financial watchdog that it would be cheaper to build new buildings.

We should not make the same mistake in this instance. St. Joseph's is surrounded by new housing developments and is anxious to accept all children who wish to enrol. I compliment the teachers, pupils, parents, the principal and the board of management for all the hard work they have put into making their dreams for the school a reality. I ask the Minister to give a firm commitment to helping this school in the interest of educational progression and health and safety. It is unfair to force children and teachers into accommodation when capacity is already maximised. The only blockage to progress at present is the Minister.

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Pat Carey)

I am replying to this motion on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the current position on St. Joseph's national school, Rathwire, Killucan, County Westmeath.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of under investment in this area, as well as the need to respond to emerging demands in areas of rapid population growth. Nonetheless, the Government has shown a consistent determination to improve the condition of school buildings and ensure the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

The Government has dramatically increased investment in the school building programme from just over €90 million to €540 million this year. Under the lifetime of the national development plan, almost €4.5 billion will be invested in schools. This unprecedented level of capital investment reflects the commitment of the Government to continuing its programme of sustained investment in primary and post primary schools. This year over €300 million will be invested in large scale building projects concentrated mainly in the provision of school accommodation in rapidly developing areas.

The funding will facilitate construction work on over 150 large scale projects which will deliver over 15,000 additional permanent places in new schools and the extension and modernisation of facilities in existing schools for over 45,000 pupils. It will also enable the purchase of sites to facilitate the smooth delivery of the school building programme with a focus on site requirements in rapidly developing areas. The balance will be used to fund the other elements of the school building programme such as the summer works scheme, the small schools scheme and the permanent accommodation scheme. In total over 1,500 school building projects will be delivered in 2007.

St. Joseph's national school has a current staffing of one principal, five mainstream teachers and one learning support and resource teacher. The school has a current enrolment of 147 pupils and has experienced a 15% increase in enrolments over the past five years.

The school management authority made an application to the Department in February 2006 for capital investment in additional classroom accommodation. The application was assessed in accordance with the Department's published prioritisation criteria. As the Deputy will be aware, all applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria. Progress on individual projects, such as the one in question, will be considered in the context of the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

In common with all applications for major capital investment, the Department carries out a detailed examination of the demographic profile of an area, together with planned housing developments and other matters to ensure that any planned capital investment will meet the needs of the area as a whole for the foreseeable future. A recent submission on developments in the area has been received from the school authorities and is being examined by the Department. All schools are required as an interim measure to maximize the use of existing accommodation until the Department is in a position to make extra accommodation available.

Deputy Jimmy Deenihan

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise the issue of Dromclough national school, County Kerry. I attended the school in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has always had a high level of academic achievement. Enrolment is approximately 203 and the school has 11 teachers, three special needs assistants and a secretary. An application was made in April 2002 for new accommodation and a further application was submitted in January 2003. The school authorities received a letter from the Department of Education and Science in January 2006 confirming that approval had been granted for an eight classroom school. The school authorities, board of management, principal and teachers have been waiting for a site visit from the Department's technical team for almost two years. They believe that other schools, which received approval for building projects after January 2006, have made considerable progress and they are asking why their school has been ignored.

The school was placed on band 2.2 in the Department's banding system. The board of management believes the school should have been placed in a higher priority band on the basis that cognisance was not taken of the structural condition of the school building. Three classrooms built in 1964 are basically glass boxes measuring 49 sq. m., whereas the current regulation classroom size is 70 sq. m. The classrooms in question are a safety hazard in every sense and limited space is also bad for health. They are not linked by a corridor which means pupils must walk through working classrooms to reach the other part of the school building. Such conditions are unacceptable in this day and age.

A further section of the building was completed in 1981. Unfortunately, due to cutbacks at that time, proper materials were not used in construction. As a result, there are major structural defects with the entire section, in which I have seen subsidence. Floors have dropped, creating ledges and the roof leaks. When the heating system broke down in 2004 the school was informed by a plumber that the pipes in the section had been broken and had been leaking hot water into the ground for as many as 20 years. Water drainage pipes under the building were also broken and there were sewerage problems. Cracks have had to be filled in various parts of the section over the years.

The doors of the in-class toilet areas have to be planed regularly. A prefabricated building provided by the Department in 1991 is falling into serious disrepair. Accommodation was never provided for the resource teachers despite many applications being submitted. A sense of complete frustration led the school to buy a portakabin measuring 52 ft. by 12 ft. This is divided by a single partition into three spaces for the three resource teachers. Moneys for this purpose were primarily secured through fundraising.

The school does not have a staff room, principal's office or storage facilities in corridors or classrooms, nor does it have facilities for disabled people. The building's flat roof has outlived its lifespan. A site of 4.5 acres is available for a new building adjacent to the school grounds.

I am disappointed the Minister is not present for this debate. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, a fellow Kerry person and former teacher, to convey to the Minister the need to assemble a technical group to visit Dromclough national school. Other schools in County Kerry could be visited at the same time. Is the county so peripheral that the Department cannot get officials to visit us?

Deputy Pat Carey

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin. The Minister thanks the Deputy for raising the matter as it affords her an opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the position regarding the application for an extension to Dromclough national school, Listowel, County Kerry.

Modernising facilities in our schools presents major challenges given the legacy of underinvestment and the need to respond to emerging issues in areas of rapid population growth. The Government has demonstrated a commitment to improving the condition of our school buildings and ensuring accommodation facilities are made available to support a broad and balanced curriculum. This year alone, more than €540 million is being spent on school building and modernisation projects. Since 1997, a total of €3 billion has been invested in school buildings and this has delivered in excess of 7,800 projects.

While continuing to build on past achievements, investment this year has focused in particular on the provision of school accommodation in areas where the population is growing at a rapid rate. As further evidence of the Government's commitment, funding under the national development plan of approximately €4.5 billion will be invested in schools in the coming years.

In addition to the record levels of investment I have outlined, the programme for Government contains a wide range of commitments which will maintain momentum in the school building programme. I am sure Deputies will agree that, taken together with the committed funding in the coming years, there is clear evidence of the priority accorded to school building by the Government.

Furthermore, to reduce red tape and allow projects to progress at a faster pace, responsibility for smaller projects has been devolved to school level. Standard designs have also been developed for eight and 16 classroom schools to facilitate speedier delivery of projects and save on design fees. The design and build method is also used to expedite delivery where the use of standard designs is not possible. Taken together with the unprecedented level of funding available, these initiatives ensure building projects are delivered in the fastest timeframe possible.

Turning to the school in question, Dromclough national school is a co-educational primary school with a current enrolment of 194 pupils. Enrolments at this school have increased in recent years from 164 pupils in 2001. The school has a current staffing of a principal, seven mainstream assistants and three learning support-resource teachers.

The school has submitted an application to the Department for an extension and the long-term staffing figure on which accommodation needs will be based has been determined and notified to the school authority. It has been agreed that appropriate accommodation should be provided to cater for a long-term projected staffing of a principal, eight mainstream assistants and appropriate ancillary accommodation. The next step is to carry out a technical investigation of the existing building and site to determine its suitability. When this inspection has been completed the project will be progressed in the context of the school building and modernisation programme. I will convey to the Minister the Deputy's concern that the project be progressed as quickly as possible.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and allowing me to outline the progress being made under the school building and modernisation programme and the position regarding the application for an extension to Dromclough national school, Listowel, County Kerry.

Deputy Jimmy Deenihan

The school has made no progress.

Planning Legislation.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I seek the repeal of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. I opposed the Bill's passage through this House in the final days of the session prior to the commencement of the summer recess in July 2006. Sinn Féin remains absolutely opposed to the anti-democratic intent of this legislation that facilitates the rushing through, railroading and imposition of major infrastructural projects, irrespective of their effects in environmental or health terms on citizens or on whole communities.

In our contributions in the course of the passage of this legislation Sinn Féin Deputies spelled out clearly its intent and purpose and our opposition. This legislation allows major infrastructural projects to bypass the planning process, denies citizens and communities their right to give effect to their objections in that process and fast-tracks approval through the strategic infrastructure division of An Bord Pleanála. Incinerators, thermal power stations, landfill sites, oil and gas pipelines and installations, motorway routes, electricity power line link-ups and much more besides are facilitated by the legislation. It is the latter, the electricity power line link-ups, that has prompted our return to the legislation in question. EirGrid has now publicly indicated its intent to put in place a North-South interconnector from counties Tyrone and Armagh and through County Monaghan and into County Cavan. It has a second power line proposal between counties Meath and Cavan.

It would appear that despite the clearly expressed opposition of countless thousands of families who live in close proximity to the proposed routes of these power lines and their support pylons, EirGrid remains fixed on its overhead approach to these projects. The same can be said of NIE, Northern Ireland Electricity, which is jointly on board with EirGrid in the first of the two projects signalled. Communities the length of these proposed power lines are vehemently opposed to the introduction of these unsightly pylons and fearful for the health of all exposed to these high voltage power conduits, fearful for themselves collectively, for their families, and for the children of these communities.

It is an absolute essential, I believe, that we recognise the harrowing reality of the outworking of the passage of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006. The extent of concern, real fear, and absolute opposition voiced throughout the length and the breadth of counties Armagh, through Monaghan and Cavan and into County Meath knows no bounds. It knows no political boundaries and people of all opinions and none are joining as concerned communities endeavouring to ensure that EirGrid and NIE in their particular area of responsibility deal with these proposed projects, important infrastructural developments that they be, from an undergrounding approach. There can be no question that there is significant information on record, eminent professional and well-researched opinion, stating clearly that there is every reason for genuine health concerns and there can be no question as to the visual impact on the environment of this unsightly string of pylon structures, stretching some 130 plus km along the length of the two routes suggested.

It is imperative, therefore, in light of the continued obstinacy of EirGrid and NIE, that we in this jurisdiction respond to the concerns of communities, families and citizens, who are dependent on their elected voices to deliver. In this instance, it is our bounden duty to revisit this legislation, mindful of its role in facilitating these major developers in carrying out their specific plans. We need to restore access to the proper planning process. We need to ensure there is compliance by all who wish to see major projects undertaken. We need to ensure that communities and citizens have the right to engage as objectors in the normal course.

I appeal to the Minister and to the Government to take on board this Deputy's concerns, concerns reflected by colleagues of his own and of all opinion represented in this House. It is now time for action and to properly and responsibly revisit this legislation.

Deputy Pat Carey

I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for raising the issues of democracy, accountability and participation in the planning process. One of the main goals set for the coming years by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, on whose behalf I am taking this adjournment matter, is to maximise public participation in the planning process, from the forward planning stage to development management. It is a matter of major importance to others besides Deputy Ó Caoláin.

Repealing the provisions of the strategic infrastructure Act would not do anything to enhance public participation or community involvement in the planning process. In fact, it would do the very opposite. The strategic infrastructure Act has introduced a number of key measures designed to ensure that projects which go through the new strategic consent process are subject to even greater public scrutiny than projects which go through the normal planning process, both at pre-application and application stage.

Specifically, the Act is designed to provide a better quality service for all stakeholders, infrastructure providers, State bodies and the general public alike, through a single stage consent process of approval for projects, a rigorous assessment of all projects including their environmental impact, full public consultation, and greater certainty of timeframes. Our existing planning system is an inclusive one which rightly provides for extensive public participation at various stages and ensures that all concerns can be fully taken into account when crucial decisions are taken. The strategic consent process in no way compromises or "short circuits" democratic involvement. However, what the new consent system does achieve is a streamlining that allows for full democratic participation, ensures transparency and accountability, and strikes the right balance between the national interest and the views and concerns of local groups and individuals.

The Act protects the rights of everyone to participate in the process and affords opportunities for members of the public, residents or environmental groups to make known their views on proposed infrastructure projects. Pre-application consultations also form an integral part of the new process. The purpose of these consultations is to ensure that the subsequent application for permission-approval is of a high standard, that correct procedures are followed, that adequate information is submitted and that issues relating to proper planning and sustainable development and the effects on the environment are adequately addressed from the outset in the application. Crucially, from the point of view of maximising community involvement, the board has powers to include in the process any person who in its opinion is in possession of information relevant to the proposed development. For the purposes of transparency, on conclusion of the pre-application process, records of any meetings held with prospective applicants will be made available by the board for inspection by the public.

At application stage proper, the very same extensive rights of public participation that exist in relation to "normal" planning applications apply equally under the new process. This means that, before making a decision, the board is legally obliged to consider submissions made in relation to an application. As well as having their views taken into consideration during the decision-making process, third parties also have the right to be notified of any new significant information provided by an applicant; request an oral hearing; and be notified of the decision of the board. It is worth noting that the chairperson of An Bord Pleanála has signalled that its general policy will be to hold oral hearings in all cases other than the most straightforward.

The Act also recognises the potential role for locally elected representatives in the consent process for major infrastructure development in their areas, by giving them the opportunity to have their views, both collective and individual, included in a report from the local authority or authorities potentially affected by such a development. These views, with those of the managers of the relevant local authorities, and those submitted by members of the public and other third parties, must then be taken into consideration by the board in making its determination on a particular application.

The provisions contained in the strategic infrastructure Act not only uphold but also significantly enhance the democratic participation, transparency and accountability associated with the planning process.

Fisheries Protection.

Deputy Joe McHugh

I welcome the Minister of State. As of last Tuesday no drift net fishermen or draft net fishermen operating out of Lough Foyle have been paid under the hardship compensation scheme. Perhaps the Minister of State has a further update, but that was the position up to Tuesday. We are talking about a number of fishermen who have been fishing all their lives and generations of their families have been involved in salmon fishing. These fishermen bought into this scheme in good faith and surrendered their licences and their nets. It is nearly Christmas yet none of these fishermen has been paid. It is a serious issue because the hardship scheme and the ban on drift net fishing damaged the fabric of a way of life not just in Donegal and the Lough Swilly area but around the inlets of the island of Ireland. This will always be remembered.

It is an extremely sore point given that the fishermen bought into this scheme in good faith but must now await EU approval. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, stated that this must be sanctioned by the European Commission. While the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, probably does not have this information to hand, the question that needs to be asked is when the State aid package was sent to Europe for consideration and sanction. There is no point in members of the Government telling fishermen in Donegal that Brussels is responsible. The onus is on the Government to expedite the processing of this approval. The only way this can happen is by making direct contact with Commissioner Joe Borg in Brussels. I ask the Minister of State to use his good offices with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to come to some resolution.

More generally, the community in County Donegal, which includes my constituency, is very much a coastal one. There have been dramatic changes in its way of life in recent years, with fishermen not being allowed to fish for salmon and having to sell their licences. In addition, another decommissioning of the white fish fleet is coming down the track for 2008. Many fishermen had difficulty with this fund being named the hardship fund. Effectively it is more a redundancy package. These men had a way of life in an industry that contributed to the local economy. The only difference from a redundancy package is that the payments from the fund will be taxed, which is another cause for concern and a bone of contention.

We are fighting a battle to retain jobs in this sector. While some fishermen are diversifying into shrimp fishing or returning to lobster fishing, there are job losses as a result of the scheme. It is difficult to map out a future for any type of coastal activity. There was a gaping hole in yesterday's budget regarding funding for the coastal community following the cessation of drift net fishing.

In Brussels, Joe Borg stated that compensation packages would be available for the Government to access. Where are they? The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, needs to answer this question. Where are the measures for the different types of investment schemes which were discussed seven months ago? They are not in place and are not included in this year's budget, unless they are hidden between the lines.

Coastal communities have many difficulties. I raised the issue of the coastal stations at Malin Head and Valentia with the Taoiseach yesterday. We are getting rid of a way of life in rural Ireland. This is an issue we need to take seriously and we have enough coastal public representatives to make sure it does not happen. Why are we seeking to remove services from Malin Head and Valentia, two of the most peripheral parts of the country, given there are 17 jobs at each station? We must stay focused on this issue. I look forward to a favourable reply.

Deputy Pat Carey

I thank Deputy McHugh for raising the matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan.

By way of background, the Minister would like to advise the House that in May 2007 approval was given by the North-South Ministerial Council for the introduction of a suite of five regulations to be administered by the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. The regulations provided the Loughs Agency with the necessary powers to manage the North Atlantic salmon fisheries in the Foyle and Carlingford areas in compliance with the EU habitats directive and the recommendations of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation, NASCO. Recognising the impact that cessation of the mixed stock fishery at sea would have on a traditional salmon fishermen, approval was also given for an associated hardship scheme to be offered to former drift and draft net licence holders with demonstrable fishing experience during the period 2002 to 2006.

Historically, commercial salmon fishing has been undertaken using drift and draft nets. Drift net fisheries have operated in the Foyle area, with draft net activity being concentrated in recent years in the tidal River Foyle between Derry and Strabane. There is no commercial fishery for salmon in the Carlingford area. As the stocks exploited seawards of Lough Foyle are mixed and include stock from rivers not achieving their conservation limits, the agency must end the fishing of salmon in this area. While the stocks exploited in both Lough Foyle and the tidal area of the Foyle by the commercial fishery are currently achieving their conservation limits, evidence indicates that rationalisation of fishing effort is necessary for stock levels to continue to achieve conservation limits and for the continuation of a viable commercial fishery. It is therefore recognised that the cessation and rationalisation of commercial salmon fishing will have a significant financial impact on those who historically operated in these seasonal fisheries.

The salmon hardship scheme being administered by the Loughs Agency is intended to provide a measure of relief to individuals in line with the degree of hardship likely to be experienced on foot of the cessation of fishing for salmon arising from the closure of the interceptory fishery seaward of Lough Foyle and the reduction of the number of commercial licences operating within the lough. The scheme is based on the fishing history of those who are impacted by the need to cease fishing and of those who may accept it on a voluntary basis to facilitate the rationalisation of commercial fishing effort.

The agency has estimated the maximum total cost of the scheme at €4,270,000 if all the licensees were to take up the package. The agency will collect and destroy the decommissioned fishing gear and those wishing to receive the hardship package will be required to give a commitment to leave the salmon fishing sector permanently. In fact, the number of drift nets that operated in the Foyle area in 2007 reduced from 112 to 18 and the number of draft nets which operated within Lough Foyle and the River Foyle decreased from 50 to 12.

The scheme is joint-funded by the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. Both sponsoring Departments have simultaneously lodged a State aid notification with the Commission. The necessary State aid approval by the European Commission of the Hardship Scheme is still awaited and it has not been possible for payments to be made by the Loughs Agency to date. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, recently discussed the issue with the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland, while participating in a sectoral meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, and they resolved that they would pursue the European Commission for an urgent decision. I am advised that as soon as approval is received, applicants will be invited to complete their applications and payments will commence.

The Dáil adjourned at 8.10 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 11 December 2007.