Written Answers Nos. 193-214
193. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the commencement of a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the school will commence in the first quarter of 2019; and if all issues regarding ownership of the site have now been finalised. [37285/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2b – Detailed Design.
This project was authorised to commence the Pre-Qualification of Contractors in May 2018. The tender notice for the main contract was published on eTenders on 7 June 2018 with a deadline for receipt of documentation of 13 July 2018. The tender notices for the Mechanical and Electrical Reserved Specialists were advertised on eTenders on 21 June 2018 with a deadline for receipt of documentation of 22 July 2018. The pre-qualification and shortlisting of suitable contractors normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete. My Department has been informed by the Design Team Leader that this process is almost complete. When pre-qualification is complete the project will then be progressed to tender stage.
The project is currently profiled to commence construction in Q3 2019. However, my Department has advised the school that if the project is in a position to commence construction earlier in 2019, my Department can facilitate this.
Regarding the site, legal representatives for both parties are working together with a view to concluding the conveyancing. All parties continue the work to ensure the acquisition completes at the earliest possible date and at this point it is still not anticipated that the completion of conveyancing will impact on the timelines for delivery of the building project.
194. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the possible provision of a new secondary school for the greater Newbridge area of County Kildare; if the need for such a school has been determined; and if so, when development will commence. [37286/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my 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.
In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. Based on the current analysis, this need can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools. Approximately 40% of extra school places are delivered by extending existing schools.
I have highlighted that the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school in the South Kildare school planning areas, additional capacity in the region of 1,700 school places will be provided when projects at the following four schools in this area are completed:
- St. Conleth's Community College, Newbridge;
- Athy Community College, Athy;
- Cross and Passion Secondary School, Kilcullen; and
- St Paul's Secondary School, Monasterevin.
A building project for the Patrician College Newbridge is also included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.
However, in line with the ongoing review of school planning areas generally, I can confirm that my Department is currently reviewing provision at post-primary level across the school planning areas in South Kildare and it is anticipated that this review will be completed in October.
195. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a new primary school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [37287/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Design Team has confirmed that it is working on finalising the Stage 2b report which will be submitted through the Board of Management to my Department.
Upon completion and review of the Stage 2(b) submission, the project will then be authorised to complete pre-qualification of Contractors. Pre-qualification normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete.
When pre-qualification is complete the project will then be progressed to tender stage. A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete. In this context, the school building project has been profiled to commence construction in Quarter 4 2019.
A letter issued from my Department to the Board of Management on 9th March 2018 outlining the projected timeframe for the progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.
196. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing pay parity for primary principal teachers with those in second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37323/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allowance payable to principal teachers employed by the managerial authorities of primary schools is a eleven point scale. The allowance for Post Primary Principals is a seventeen point scale. The maximum of the Primary Principal allowance scale is €29,776. The maximum of the Post-Primary Principal allowance scale is €42,469. This allowance is paid in addition to the teachers basic salary.
A basis for the difference in the length of the scales is the fact that primary schools in general are smaller than post primary schools.
The calculation of the precise aggregate cost of making the allowances identical across the entire primary and post primary sectors would be a complex exercise as it would require assessing the pay point of every principal teacher involved.
197. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a requested meeting (details supplied) with the Minister of State with responsibility for school transport will be arranged; if it will take place in the location suggested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37348/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
Officials from my Department are in discussions with the Department referred to by the Deputy in regard to the issues raised relating to primary school transport. A decision regarding the requested meeting will be made when these discussions are finalised.
198. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of the 51% of buses inspected by the Road Safety Authority which failed roadside safety checks, as reported recently by RTÉ, awarded contracts under the school transport scheme; and the number of the buses inspected which were carrying schoolchildren in County Louth. [37376/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra199. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the safety regime in Bus Éireann further to his recent comments that Bus Éireann has assured his Department that a robust safety regime is in place; and the assurances given with reference to the buses operating under the school transport scheme. [37377/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of buses operating under the school transport scheme in County Louth; the number of these buses that have been inspected for roadworthiness in the past 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively; and the outcome of these inspections. [37378/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by the chairperson of the Road Safety Authority in July 2017 regarding the roadworthiness of buses operating under the school transport scheme; the measures undertaken to address these concerns at that time; and if he is satisfied that these concerns were sufficiently addressed. [37379/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra202. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to undertake an audit by county of buses contracted under the school transport scheme to ensure such buses meet roadworthiness standards. [37380/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to takes Questions Nos. 198 to 202, inclusive, together.
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2017/18 school year over 117,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
There are 11 Bus Éireann vehicles operating to various schools in County Louth and there are 145 Contractor’s vehicles operating to various schools in County Louth.
In order to be considered roadworthy a bus must pass an annual Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT), conducted under the auspices of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) at approved test centres around the country. Bus Éireann school transport providers are contractually obliged to ensure that their vehicle has an up to date roadworthiness certificate issued by an RSA accredited test centre when a contract is signed. The contractor is obliged to keep their roadworthiness certificate current and up to date at all times and provide Bus Éireann with evidence of this.
All school buses in service - procured by Bus Éireann to provide services under the School Transport Scheme - that are subject to roadside inspections, must have current roadworthiness certification at the time of inspection.
A detailed contract is put in place for all contracted services – which includes numerous safety-related items. There is a strict process in place before any vehicle or driver is added to the approved list for provision of services under the School Transport Scheme. Required documentation is checked and copies are held by Bus Éireann offices. This documentation includes insurance and insurance indemnity, valid Road Passenger Transport Operator Licence (with required vehicles added), valid Certificate of Roadworthiness (CRW), appropriate valid Public Service Vehicle licence (large/small) (PSV) and evidence of Tax Clearance.
Bus Éireann contracts also include a stipulation that requires all contractors to have planned maintenance programmes, with checking intervals of not more than six weeks. Every Contractor is also responsible as an individual bus operator, licensed by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, to ensure they comply with legislation in all respects.
In addition to statutory requirements, Bus Éireann arranges for additional sample auditing of contractors vehicles operating under the Scheme, throughout the year. These additional quality assurance checks are carried out by independent vehicle inspection auditors, on both a targeted and random basis. Almost one in five buses contracted to the School Transport Scheme are audited under these quality assurance checks, which are designed to monitor the condition and roadworthiness status of each vehicle checked.
Any vehicles that fall short of the standards required during the audits are immediately withdrawn from further service until all identified issues are rectified by the contractor. If contractors are found not to have carried out the required improvements to their fleet and systems, they face penalties up to and including termination of contract.
Figures recently released to RTÉ under FOI stated that 51% of the buses inspected by the RSA in the past year failed roadside safety checks. Almost a third of them were found to have had major or dangerous defects. It should be noted the figures do not exclusively pertain to operators contracted on the School Transport Scheme. Many buses included in the figures were operating on privately engaged school services or other private hire work at the time of inspection. The RSA have also acknowledged that the inspections were targeted at operators of known concern and the published figures reflect this.
Bus Éireann have robust requirements and checks in place to ensure a high level of safety at all times and in this regard they will be issuing a communication to TDs and Senators in the coming days to provide information on these safety requirements and checks.
203. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the progress of a development at a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [37381/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s “Rapid” Design & Build programme. The brief for the project is to provide a new 1000 pupil post primary school with a 3 classroom Special Needs Unit on a green field site in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork.
The project is currently at Stage 2B of architectural planning, which is the detailed design stage. The project will proceed to secure the necessary statutory approvals before proceeding to tender and construction stages. Representatives of the school attended a meeting to review the plans for the new school which was held on the 11 September 2018.
204. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the refurbishment and provision of an extension for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37390/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the start date for prefab replacement for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37391/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.
As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme.
In that regard a technical site visit was carried out by my Department at the school's current site with a view to developing the project brief, which is currently being finalised. My Department will continue to liaise with the school authority in respect of the project.
206. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on delivery of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37392/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the building project for the school to which he refers is included on my Department's capital programme.
Officials in my Department continue to engage with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site to facilitate the school building project and such an acquisition is currently being progressed.
In tandem with this the Schedule of Accommodation is currently being finalised and as soon as this is completed my Department will be in contact with the school authorities.
207. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a permanent school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37393/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design).
In order to mitigate against potential further delay to this project, a process to replace the Chief Architect/Design Team leader for the project at the school referred to by the Deputy was completed in early August 2018.
The newly-appointed architect was immediately provided with the project drawings and detailed design to date completed by the previous in-house Departmental architect, in order to familiarise, review and update the project to comply with current Technical Guidance Documents and Building Regulations, including that of NZEB (Near Zero Energy Building) standard.
A Design Team meeting is anticipated in the coming weeks to evaluate design options that best comply with the regulations and meet the school needs.
Following this review, the Design Team will provide a report and project programme to the Board of Management which will in turn be forwarded to my Department for review.
At that point, my Department will advise the School Authorities of the timeline for the progression of this project to tender and construction.
208. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin will be enrolling in September 2018; if so, the location of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37394/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMalahide Portmarnock Educate Together Secondary School opened on 27 August 2018 in interim accommodation in the RIASC Centre, Feltrim Road, Kinsealy, Co. Dublin.
209. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for the proposed school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37395/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the proposed location for the new post-primary school to which he refers is in Mooretown, Swords.
This school building project is on my Department's Rapid Design & Build Programme and the project is currently at tender stage.
210. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37396/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, a project to deliver permanent accommodation for the new post primary school to serve Malahide/Portmarnock is included on my Department's capital programme.
Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site to facilitate this project. The proposed acquisition of such a site is currently being progressed.
My Department continues to keep Educate Together, as patron of the school, appraised of developments in the site acquisition process.
211. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37397/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme.
Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for this school. A preferred site option to accommodate the school in question has been identified and agreement in principle for its proposed acquisition has been reached with the relevant landowner.
My Department will keep the school patron appraised of progress in this regard.
212. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37398/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe lands at the site for the major buidling project, as referred to by the Deputy, were purchased by the St. Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust, on behalf of the Board of Management.
An initial site adjacent to the school, was procured from Fingal County Council and transferred ownership on 1st June 2017.
The second site was purchased from a private vendor and ownership transferred on 18th October 2017.
My Department received copies of the deeds of transfer in November 2017.
213. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37399/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.
My Department has made recent contact with the Patron body in the context of progressing the major project.
214. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the next phase of the school building for a school (details supplied) will commence; the status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37400/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers commenced construction on 3rd January 2018. Works are progressing well on site; subject to no issues arising it is envisaged that the school will be ready for occupation in the 4th quarter of 2019.
