Written Answers Nos. 159-172
159. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position of the proposed new special school to replace schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20538/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA project to provide new school buildings on a greenfield site acquired by the Department for the schools referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department's school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP).
A project brief has been finalised and my Department is currently considering the optimum means of delivering the accommodation brief on the site. My Department will be in further contact with the schools shortly.
160. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made on the acquisition of a site for a post-primary school to serve the Citywest and Saggart areas of County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20543/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm for the Deputy it is proposed to accommodate the school to which he refers on an ETB-owned site in Fortunestown Lane, Citywest.
161. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made and the timeline for the selection of a patron for a proposed post-primary school in Citywest and Saggart, County Dublin. [20544/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government announced plans in April 2018 for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022) including a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in September 2020 to serve Citywest/Saggart (Tallaght & Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas) as a regional solution.
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.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.
The new Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents and guardians which will allow them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education.
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes will be made available on my Department's website.
The patronage process for the new post-primary school in Citywest/Saggart, will also be run later this year, significantly ahead of its due opening. Updates in relation to further patronage processes will be announced on the OPPS website (http://patronage.education.gov.ie/) and my Department’s website (www.education.ie).
162. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding insufficient secondary school places for children in ASD units in County Wexford; his plans to increase provision of second level ASD units in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20609/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIndividual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes. It is open to any school to make application to the National Council for Special education (NCSE) to establish a special class.
The NCSE, an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
In deciding where to establish a special class in an area, the NCSE take account of the current and projected demand and the available school accommodation both current and planned. In this regard, the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) may approach individual schools to discuss the matter with a view to finding the optimal location in terms of convenience and sustainability.
When the NCSE sanction a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to reconfigure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation.
Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) who are locally based are available to assist and advise parents whose children have special needs. They also assist and advise schools in making decisions in this area.
From time to time, the NCSE identifies local areas where additional special class provision is required. In those circumstances, Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved. This process is ongoing and the NCSE are actively engaging with schools in relation to establishing ASD classes where there is an identified need for the 2019/2020 school year.
There are now 1,459 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011. There are 2 special schools and 52 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Wexford. Of these, 3 are ASD early intervention classes, 28 are primary ASD classes and 14 are post primary ASD classes. The NCSE has informed my Department that they intend to establish approx. 165 new ASD special classes nationally for 2019/20 school year to meet currently identified need.
Since 2011, the number of ASD special classes in Co. Wexford has more than doubled from 17 in 2011 to 45 in 2018/19 school year.
As the Deputy's question relates to a specific area, I have forwarded it to the National Council for Special Education for direct reply.
163. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made with regard to the provision of new primary school sites and buildings for schools (details supplied). [20610/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project is currently at Construction Stage with an expected delivery date in Quarter 3 of 2019.
164. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of primary school places in Rathcoole, County Dublin; his plans to assist the approximately 24 children who cannot get a school place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20612/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 8 classroom primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Newcastle_Rathcoole/Saggart school planning area.
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.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department approved two temporary classrooms and a Special Education Teaching room for Scoil Chronain National School, Rathcoole in 2018 to provide for additional school places. These additional classes are currently being accommodated in Rathcoole Community Centre pending installation of the temporary classrooms at the school. The responsibility for this installation has been devolved to the Board of Management.
In addition, my Department has recently approved 2 further mainstream classrooms for Scoil Chronain to cater for additional primary school places in Rathcoole for September 2019. The responsibility for the installation of these classrooms has also been devolved to the Board of Management.
The requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard to the impact of the increased roll out of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040. My Department will also continue to monitor areas where the accommodation of existing schools may need to be expanded in order to meet the needs of the local population.
The Educational Welfare Services of the Child & Family Agency (EWS) can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS contact details are as follows: the Educational Welfare Services of the Child & Family Agency, Ground Floor, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter, Dublin 8 or by telephone at 01 7718815.
165. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the construction of a school (details supplied); the status of the tendering process; the date of the tender awarded; the timescale for construction to commence; the expected delivery date of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20616/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board.
Tenders have been invited from the shortlisted contractors and the closing date for receipt of tenders is 7th June 2019. Once the tender process has been completed, construction can be expected to begin on site. At this point, it is not possible to provide an exact and accurate timeline for completion of the project.
166. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 26 March 2019, if a principal has been appointed for the north County Kildare Gaelcholáiste; if rental accommodation has been secured; if so, the location of some; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20618/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 26 March 2019, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) have informed officials from my Department that a Principal has been appointed and taken up duty on the 13th May, 2019.
My Department also understands that KWETB are taking a managed approach to provision of accommodation for students in Maynooth which consists of accommodation in Manor Mills for September 2019 and temporary rented accommodation on site at Maynooth Post Primary School.
My Department has sanctioned rental accommodation and KWETB has appointed a consultant who is preparing the planning application. The consultant will then procure a contractor to supply and install the prefabs along with the required services. It is not possible at this stage to give an exact date.
167. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when tenders will be invited from the shortlist of contractors for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20619/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design.
The pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of suitable contractors has been completed and the Design Team is currently carrying out a final review of tender documentation.
Once this work is complete, my Department will be in contact with the Board of Management of the school with a view to progressing the project to tender stage.
A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.
168. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tenders received for the appointment of a design team for a school (details supplied) by the closing date of 2 April 2019; when the contract will be awarded to the preferred design team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20620/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). I can inform the Deputy that KWETB has confirmed that the tenders for the appointment of the design team have been assessed and appointments will be made shortly in that respect. However, as the appointment process has not yet concluded, I am not in a position to provide any further detail on that tender competition.
169. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenders have now been invited from the shortlist of contractors for a school (details supplied); if so, the closing date for receipt of tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20621/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe process of Pre-Qualification of contractors for the project in question is underway. For this particular project, pre-qualification of reserved specialists for the mechanical and electrical works is also required. The Pre-qualification process culminates in the compilation of shortlists of suitable candidates for each respective discipline.
The shortlist was submitted to my Department for review on January 11th 2019. On January 17th the Department reverted to the Design Team with a number of items to be actioned with regard to finalising the process. The updated report was submitted to my Department on March 6th 2019 and the Design Team has now been authorised to complete the pre-qualification process.
When the Pre-Qualification process is completed the project will then be progressed to tender stage which normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.
170. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenders have now been invited from the shortlist of contractors for a school (details supplied); if so, the closing date for receipt of tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20622/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board.
Tenders have been invited from the shortlisted contractors and the closing date for receipt of tenders is 7th June 2019.
171. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a project manager has been appointed for the ADAPT programme; if so, when work will commence on the design of the building project for a school (details supplied); the details of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20623/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in My Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
This project is one of the school building projects on my Department’s ADAPT 2 (Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning & Tendering) Programme. My Department is currently in the process of procuring a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which currently contains 16 school building projects. The appointment of a Design Team – (Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Civil & Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer and Project Supervisor for the Design Process) for the school in question will commence shortly.
172. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 423 of 26 March 2019, if there has been further progress on the site acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20624/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy has been informed, agreement in principle to acquire a site has been reached. Work is progressing and ongoing with the landowner in question and Kildare County Council in addressing technical considerations crucial to the delivery of the site and the commencement of the legal conveyancing process. Due to reasons of commercial sensitivity I am unable to elaborate further at this point.
