Written Answers Nos. 209-228
209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position in regard to the Gaelcholáiste for north County Kildare; the progress to date in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2968/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established.
As the Deputy will be aware, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) and An Foras Pátrúnachta had been working through the practical arrangements necessary to facilitate the establishment of a new Gaelcholáiste. My Department received correspondence from both of these parties in December 2018 and has recently responded to both parties.
The Department has confirmed that the Gaelcholáiste is to be established from September 2019. KWETB will commence immediately the process of working through the necessary arrangements, including the appointment of a principal, with a view to opening the school for September 2019.
210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which progress continues to be made in regard to the patronage of primary and second-level schools nationally in general and in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2969/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to increasing the number of multi-/non-denominational schools to 400 such schools by 2030. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has developed the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process which is a new process to deliver on this commitment through patronage transfer, in line with the choices of local parents and school communities.
There are two Phases to the new process – the Identification Phase and the Implementation Phase.
The Identification Phase is currently underway in 16 areas nationwide. Each of the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have selected an initial pilot area within their functional area where they consider, based on census data and local knowledge, there is likely to be an oncoming demand for greater diversity of patronage in educational provision. Surveys of parents of pre-school children have been carried out in these areas by the relevant City/County Childcare Committee on behalf of the ETBs. ETBs, having analysed the survey results, draw up comprehensive reports on the position in relation to each of the 16 pilot areas. This forms the basis of discussions with the most prevalent patron/landowner in the area (the Catholic Bishop in most cases) concerning the transfer of patronage of an existing school, or schools, to meet that oncoming demand. The response by the landowner/patron to any identified demand for greater diversity is included in the report prepared by the ETB, for submission to my Department, which intends to publish the final reports.
Following the finalisation of the first round of reports, it is intended that the process would move into the Implementation Phase. This Phase involves consultation with local school communities on accommodating demand for diversity of patronage by transferring patronage of an existing school to a new multi-/non-denominational patron. Draft protocols for the Implementation Phase are at an advanced stage of development.
In relation to Kildare specifically, a town/area in County Kildare has not been identified for survey as Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board has chosen to survey Bray in Co. Wicklow as part of this initial roll-out. A second round of town selections and surveys of pre-school parents will be organised by ETBs when the outcomes of the initial round of pilot surveys have been assessed and any necessary adjustments made in the Schools Reconfiguration process.
The Schools Reconfiguration process, which involves the transfer of live schools, has the potential to significantly increase patronage diversity in our school system.
In addition to the process outlined above, the “early movers” provision of this process enables school communities which have already decided to seek a transfer of patronage (independent of the survey process) to request their existing patron to apply to the Minister for a direct transfer of patronage under section 8 of the Education Act.
211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that can be taken in the future to avoid the situations such as the collapse of a company (details supplied) in the UK with particular reference to its effect on various school building projects here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2970/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Schools Bundle 5 Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme was delayed due to the liquidation of Carillion Construction Ltd in January 2018 and the examinership and subsequent liquidation of Carillion’s sub-contractor, Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd (SCIL).
As the Deputy will be aware, the factors which contributed to the collapse of Carillion have been the subject of extensive review and inquiry in the UK, including a report prepared by the UK parliament, which was published in May 2018. This report examined a number of different issues, which included Carillion's business approach and corporate governance, and also proposed a number of conclusions, lessons and recommendations.
My Department is in the process of undertaking our own lessons learned exercise which will look at a number of different issues relating to Schools Bundle 5, including financial robustness reviews, contract structures, impacts on sub-contractors, and construction monitoring. Once construction is completed on the remaining three schools in the Schools Bundle 5 programme, we will be in a position to finalise this lessons learned report.
224. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén fáth gur diúltaíodh d’ iarratas ar chóiríocht bhreise ó scoil i gcontae Dhún na nGall (sonraí curtha ar fáil); an aithníonn sé go bhfuil géarghá ann le seomra ilfhóinteach a thógáil ar shuíomh na scoile chun freastal ar riachtanais oideachais, oiliúna agus eile de chuid daltaí; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [3051/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBa mhaith liom a chur in iúl don Teachta Dála go bhfuil seomra ilchuspóireach na scoile in úsáid mar chóiríocht do sheomra ranga príomhshrutha, agus go bhfuil an socrú seo ann le roinnt blianta anuas. Rinne an scoil iarratas ar sheomra ranga breise ansin chun go bhféadfaí an seomra ilchuspóireach a fháil ar ais le haghaidh na húsáide dá raibh sé beartaithe ar dtús.
Mar thoradh ar éilimh éagsúla atá in iomaíocht lena chéile a bheith ar bhuiséad caipitil na Roinne tá ar an Roinn an maoiniú atá ar fáil a chur in ord tosaíochta le haghaidh cóiríocht seomra ranga fíor-riachtanach chun freastal ar éileamh déimeagrafach.
Dá bhrí sin ní raibh ar chumas mo Roinne deontas don gcuspóir sin a chur ar fáil. Scríobh an scoil chuig mo Roinn le déanaí maidir leis an scéal agus tabharfaidh mo Roinn freagra ar litir na scoile go luath.
225. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3062/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for major capital investment. Applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. In order to meet the needs of our growing population of school going children, my Department must establish new schools as well as extending a number of existing schools in areas where demographic growth has been identified. The delivery of these new schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will be the main focus of my Department’s budget for the coming years. As the school in question is not located in an area of significant demographic growth, my Department is not in a position currently to consider the school's request for funding. The position has been outlined to the school.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's capital investment programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for existing schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified.
The National Development Plan (NDP) provides for an €8.4 billion investment in school buildings over the period 2018 to 2027 to deliver on NDP and National Planning Framework objectives through addressing the twin priorities of catering for demographics and ensuring a strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock. This investment will result in an almost doubling of the capital budget for school buildings - €540m in 2018 rising to an annual average of circa. €1 billion in the second half of the NDP period.
The strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands including prefab replacement, PE hall and school laboratory build and modernisation programmes as well as the commencement and progression of a deep energy retrofit of primary and post-primary schools built prior to 2008.
226. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if essential funding will be awarded to a school (details supplied) in order to complete urgent building works. [3093/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the deputy is aware the extension to the school to which he refers has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
On 31 January 2018 my department approved a grant to construct a new 80-square metre mainstream classroom with en-suite toilets, another 80-square metre classroom to replace a prefabricated classroom, an assisted user toilet and three resource rooms to replace existing prefabricated units.
On 6 September 2018, the school sent a combined stage 1/2A report to my department for approval prior to making a planning application. The report contained an increased scope of works. A letter was issued to the school authority by my department on 13 December. This letter informed the school that the increased scope of works was not approved and additional funding would not be provided in that context.
227. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be awarded to complete an ASD unit at a school (details supplied). [3096/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has completed its assessment of the application for a Special Education Needs (SEN) Base at the school in question. Funding has been approved for the SEN base and the school has been advised accordingly.
228. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for commencement of school building works at a school (details supplied). [3097/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA).
I can inform the Deputy that the NDFA has started preparations for the appointment of a design team for the project. This appointment will be a key first step in the design and construction stages. While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
