Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 July 2018
220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which primary and second level educational requirements are being met in Maynooth, County Kildare; if adequate provision in line with the requirements as set out by local management authorities is being met or is likely to be met having regard to the situation at the Maynooth educational campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29675/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Capital Programme (2016-2021) continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, including those schools in County Kildare. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for
additional classrooms, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed.
My Department is liaising with Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board, to whom the campus project has been devolved for delivery, to ensure that both existing schools have the necessary accommodation to meet pupil needs pending the delivery of their new school buildings at Maynooth Education Campus.
The Deputy will also be aware that building projects for two primary schools in Maynooth are included on the 6 Year Construction Programme. In the case of Maynooth Educate Together National School, the project is at advanced architectural planning stage. The project is currently at tender stage, with construction anticipated to commence in Quarter 3, 2018.
The project for the new school for Maynooth Boys' National School is currently at Stage 2B of the Architectural Planning process – Detailed Design Stage.
Planning permission, fire certificate and disability access certificate for this project have been granted and my Department has recently authorised the project to proceed to pre-qualification of contractors.
My Department has written to the school outlining the projected timeframe for progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has set out on its website at www.education.ie - Building Works, the current status of building projects and this is updated regularly.
I also wish to advise the Deputy of my announcement in April regarding the establishment of 42 new schools, including a primary school in Maynooth, over the next four years (2019 to 2022).
This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by the Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
