Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 January 2008
937 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of meetings between her Department and Fingal County Council under the aegis of the planning coordinating committee for the Fingal model agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1280/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra938 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of sites acquired for schools under the Fingal model agreement by her Department; if in view of the shortage of pupil places within the general area, her Department has considered other methods to acquire the sites under the Fingal model agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1281/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 937 and 938 together.
I can confirm that there have been four meetings between the Department of Education and Science and Fingal County Council under the aegis of the Planning Coordinating Committee for the Fingal Model Agreement. However, there is extensive communication on an ongoing basis in relation to issues relating to specific sites. Furthermore, a number of sites being acquired under the Fingal School Model are at varying stages of acquisition and, as the Deputy will appreciate, due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisition, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
As the Deputy is aware, the Department and Fingal County Council agreed to develop a new model of partnership for providing school and community facilities. Under the terms of the Fingal School Agreement, the local authority has undertaken to identify and acquire appropriate sites for schools, as recommended by this Department. In return, the design of the schools on these sites will be varied to meet community needs identified by the Council. This enhanced cooperation has the effect of minimising the Department's land requirements and thus reducing site costs while at the same time providing local communities with new schools with enhanced facilities. The range of enhanced combination facilities can include large sports halls, stage and dressing rooms, community meeting rooms, all-weather pitches and playgrounds. These additional facilities, which will be over and above the Department's standard specifications for schools, will be available not only to the school during normal school hours but also to the local community in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays. It is intended that this model will be used in Fingal to deliver approximately 20 schools in the coming years.
