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Schools Building Projects

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2010

Thursday, 6 May 2010

Ceisteanna (5)

Ulick Burke

Ceist:

5 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when she will allow a school (details supplied) in County Galway to go to construction in view of the fact that it has been waiting for ten years, without progress, to replace appalling conditions such as over-crowding and a lack of facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18575/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)

I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for major capital funding.

All applications for large-scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria which were introduced in 2004 following consultation with the education partners. Under the criteria, each project is assigned a band rating which reflects the type of works required and the urgency attaching to them. There are four band ratings, with band 1 being the highest and band 4 the lowest. Projects are progressed in accordance with the band rating assigned to them and the availability of funding. The application from this school has been assessed in accordance with the criteria and assigned a band 1.1 rating.

In 2005, the school was selected as one which was suitable for delivery of its building project under the permanent accommodation scheme 2005 and the school authority was offered funding of €300,000 to build an extension. The school authority accepted this offer and proceeded with the planning of this project while, at the same time, appealing the amount allocated to the project under the scheme.

Subsequently, the school authority notified the Department that it had decided to withdraw from the scheme and requested that they be progressed to delivery by the traditional method. In January 2007, the school was notified that the long-term projected staffing would comprise a principal plus eight assistant mainstream class teachers. As the existing school site could not accommodate a new eight-classroom school, the patron offered adjacent parish land to accommodate the provision of a new eight-classroom school building.

The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. The Department is committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for St. Catherine's national school. However, in light of current tight economic circumstances, and with competing demands on the capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time. I have already arranged to meet local Oireachtas Members, including the Deputy, to discuss this project.

If ever we wanted an example of a classic waste of money within the Department, here it is. At present the school has seven classrooms, four of which are prefabricated buildings. The other three are 60 years old, from a different age, architecturally speaking, and are too small. The cost to the school of these, on a monthly basis, is €1,728 or more than €20,000 per year. Local people are waiting since 1998 for this school. It is probable that €250,000 would probably have built it in the intervening period.

Because the school is rated at band 1.1 I ask the Tánaiste to grant the money and allow the building to progress. More than €30,000 has been spent on architectural fees, in addition to planning and other fees. The patron, Dr. Kirby, has made a site available. For reasons of health and safety associated with overcrowding and because the facilities are unbelievable I ask the Tánaiste to give sanction approval to this school as a matter of urgency.

It was obvious at the time, in 2005, that my predecessor found the school needed investment. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, it did not work out in the devolved scheme in 2005. As the Deputy knows, the situation now is that there has been a huge reduction in the amount of capital available to do this type of work.

I would like an opportunity to meet the Deputy and his colleagues to see if there is a way in which we can progress this project.

A very brief supplementary from Deputy Burke.

No time was ever as suitable or appropriate for this project to go ahead because of the current reducing costs, the new design available and the speed at which this much needed school could be provided. Again, I ask the Tánaiste to reconsider this, on the basis that everything is suitable. It was the Department, in consultation with the OPW architect, which was responsible for a great deal of the delay. The rejection of the €300,000 under the devolved scheme was not a decision taken lightly by the people. It was because of the inadequacy of the space being provided.

There are currently five teachers, three special resource teachers and two special needs assistants in the school. Surely to God, with 117 students it is overcrowded and health and safety considerations are an issue.

I do not take from the need of the school and I beg the Deputy to take that as a response. I appreciate that issues arise where people decide, for one reason or another, that something should not happen. In my view, the devolved scheme is a very good one. Obviously, there were reasons the board could not progress on it.

I would like an opportunity to discuss with the Deputy and his colleagues whether there is a way forward, given that the previous Minister had made a capital allocation on a number of his projects before I came into this Department. That said, I appreciate the genuine views of the Deputy and look forward to meeting him next week.

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