Written Answers Nos. 122-146
122. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to an implementation of a section 37(a) in one part of the country, if and when he will be extending this nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42753/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a geographical breakdown of the ASD classes available nationally, both by county and by primary and secondary schools, will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42754/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has carried out an analysis of demand for ASD classes nationally; if so, the figures by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42755/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together.
The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. Currently, we spend almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn on supporting children with special needs.
The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels and so too is the number of children receiving support across the continuum that includes mainstream classes, special classes and schools. Our commitment is to provide each child with an education in accordance with his/her need.
An additional 1,050 specialised places have been provided this school year, with 167 new special classes. This brings the total number of special class places to over 9,700, almost a trebling provision since 2011. Over 80% of these are ASD special class places.
125 special schools also provide specialist education for students with complex special educational needs including ASD. These schools now provide over 8,000 places compared to 6,848 in 2011.
Budget 2020 provides for an additional 1,064 SNA posts and 400 new special education teacher posts to cater for new need next year.
Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs including special classes for Autism are available by county on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs.
The Council has well established structures in place to plan and coordinate special education provision throughout the country.
Normally, special classes are established with the full cooperation of the schools in areas where they are required.
However there are some parts of the country where the Council faced challenges in getting schools and their Patrons to voluntarily agree to provide special class or school places.
I know that this has caused much anguish for parents and families involved.
As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.
The legislation was used for the first time back in April in respect of the Dublin 15 area.
We have made significant progress in a relatively short period with the opening 7 new special classes and a new Special School that will provide 88 places for children with special needs.
The new places will help these families and ensure that the children concerned have access to education.
The experience of Dublin 15 shows the real and practical challenges that can be addressed when opening new special classes and how we can resolve these challenges by working together and in partnership.
The NCSE is continuing its work at local level to ensure all children can access a suitable school placement for the forthcoming school year and beyond.
As Minister, I would much prefer that schools provide places for children in their community. Where this is not the case, I am prepared to use the legislation to ensure that children can access a suitable education.
125. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a copy of all correspondence from him and-or his office and-or his advisers to or from other persons or offices in his Department regarding schools in County Donegal. [42786/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe correspondence requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I will arrange for it to be forwarded directly to the Deputy when the information requested has been compiled.
126. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure a child (details supplied) with ASD and other diagnoses has access to the necessary interventions and assistance the child requires and that the cut to the child's SNA allocation will be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42790/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.
In considering applications for SNA support for individual pupils, the NCSE take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support because the requirements outlined in Circular 0030/2014 were not complied with. Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2019/20, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.
As this question relates to a particular child, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply. I do not have a role in making determinations in individual cases.
127. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the catchment boundary for a school (details supplied) is so large; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42800/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data in a way that takes account of the significant local and regional variations in demographic trends and enrolment projections, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas.
Using school planning area boundaries within my Department’s Geographic Information System (GIS) allows data within those boundaries, including data for enrolments in schools, child benefit and other relevant data to be added to the mapping information, grouped and analysed. The GIS records the number of primary and post-primary schools within each planning area, the combined enrolments for all of the schools within each area, including total enrolment and enrolment in each class group, together with child benefit data relevant to the area.
School planning areas are used in the demographic exercises as a basis for the assessment of areas of growth and to inform recommendations on the establishment of any new schools required in a school planning area(s).
In some instances, while projected growth in a single school planning area may not, of itself, warrant provision of a new school, where the combined demographic increases across a number of adjacent school planning areas indicate sufficient demand for a viable school, a regional solution may be put in place to serve these areas.
As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2018, the Government announced plans 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 2019 to serve the Galway City and Oranmore school planning areas as a regional solution.
New schools established since 2011 to meet demographic demand are required to prioritise enrolments from within the school planning area(s) which the school was established to serve. This does not preclude new schools established since 2011 from enrolling pupils from outside of the designated school planning area where it has capacity to do so, rather it reflects the need to accommodate in the first instance the demographic for which the school was established.
The question of enrolment in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the Board of Management on behalf of the school Patron and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters.
128. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will aid a school (details supplied) in its bid to increase its yard space in view of the fact that its school numbers have increased leading to health and safety concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42809/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the most appropriate funding stream for the works referred to is the Summer Works Scheme (SWS). The SWS is designed to allow primary and post primary schools to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings.
It is noted that the school in question submitted an application for Mechanical Works under my Department's multi annual Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2020 onwards.
It is open to the school to apply for funding to address external works under future Summer Works Schemes. Alternatively, if the school authority considers the works a priority, it may use its minor works grant which all primary schools receive to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis as the grant permits.
129. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of each secondary school in County Wicklow involved in the school building programme; the length of time they have been in their current development stage; the average times for all development stages to complete; the estimated time for projects to progress to completion in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42816/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current status of projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on my Department’s website at www.education.ie and updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
It is not possible to give an average timeline for all development stages as this varies from project to project depending on the size and complexity. It also depends on interactions with planning authorities and other factors.
130. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to participate in the school transport scheme for a pupil who becomes homeless during the school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42822/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2018/2019 school year over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €200m in 2018.
The purpose of the School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
The terms of the scheme are equitable and on a national basis.
131. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his responsibilities with regard to the mandatory school age. [42823/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Education Welfare Act, 2000 the compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age and the Rules for National Schools provide that a child must be at least 4 years of age before he/she may be enrolled in a National School.
Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 parents are responsible for making sure their child receives an education. The Act also states that every child between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend school or otherwise receive an education.
The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency operate under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. The legislation emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. The statutory and school support services of the Child and Family Agency's Educational Welfare Services work together collaboratively and cohesively with schools and other relevant services to secure better educational outcomes for children and young people.
Schools are obliged by law under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 to submit reports on school attendance to the Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency.
132. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has not responded to communications, documents and reports provided to him from local community groups (details supplied); the reason he has not acknowledged or provided replies to the significant information submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42827/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that submissions received from the groups in question were acknowledged and were forwarded to my officials for consideration.
As the Deputy is aware the decision making authority for any amalgamation is the Patron/Trustees of the schools, and this is subject to the approval of my Department.
Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system. My Department was not involved in these negotiations.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the report from the patron setting out the proposal to amalgamate both schools was analysed by officials in my Department along with submissions from the groups referred to by the Deputy.
In addition to considering the submissions received officials in my Department’s Planning and Building Unit carried out an analysis of the current enrolment trends, intake patterns, future demographic demands and the current curriculum provision. The outcome of this analysis concluded that in the best interest of all stakeholders the approval of a new school building to facilitate the amalgamation of the two existing schools was the best option.
As the Deputy is aware I have accepted the recommendation from the patron to amalgamate the existing schools into a new building, and the patron has been informed.
133. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the campaign for one management day per week for teaching principals; his plans to implement same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42831/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills I have met with a number of Teaching Principals and I appreciate the pressures they face. Earlier in the year, I hosted a symposium on Small Schools which gave me an opportunity to restate the Government’s commitment to small schools and to open a dialogue with all the key stakeholders. The purpose of this work by the Department is to develop a policy proposal to help support and strengthen small primary schools throughout the country.
Budget 2020 is the third successive budget to provide for an increase in the number of principal release days. One additional release day will be allocated to each school with a teaching principal with effect from 1 September 2020. This will bring the number of release days to 19, 25 and 31, depending on the size of school. This is an increase from 14, 18 and 22 days since 2015. In addition, a further four additional release days are allocated to schools with special classes.
There are arrangements in place for schools to cluster their principal release days into a full-time post which will assist teaching principals to more effectively plan their release days for the benefit of the school.
In addition to the increase of release days, the Government lifted the moratorium on middle management posts in 2017. In total almost 1300 leadership posts have been invested in our primary schools since 2017 which has led to 1 in 3 teachers now holding promoted positions. My Department has committed to revising the number of available Posts of Responsibility to take account of retirements during the school year. This ensures that the current level of Posts of Responsibilities are maintained in the school system.
134. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the allocation for the Skillnet programme in 2020, specifically for SME upskilling, following budget 2020; the allocation made to employee skills development initiatives in budget 2020; and the allocation made for the launch of a digital skills initiative scheme. [42833/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSkillnet Ireland is funded by my Department through the National Training Fund (NTF) to act as an enterprise-led support body dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of enterprise training and workforce development as key elements in sustaining national competitiveness. Its primary role is to increase participation in enterprise training by companies to upskill the workforce and provide greater access for workers to skills development.
Skillnet Ireland has been allocated €36 million in 2020, an additional €7.9 Million in funding over 2019. This increase will provide additional training for more than 7,000 participants across 3 initiatives:
(i) €1.4m: Further expansion of their enterprise led programmes
(ii) €2.0m: A new SME upskilling scheme targeting 1,200 owners/managers in 2020 to assist in responding to the productivity gap in the indigenous SME sector;
(iii) €4.5m: A Digital Skills Initiative to provide 2,150 training places to over 900 companies in 2020 to help meet the objectives of Technology Skills 2022 – Ireland’s 3rd ICT Skills Action Plan.
Skillnet Ireland will provide training to 69,000 participants in 2020.
Skillnet Ireland operates a joint funding model where training is funded by combining contributions from employers with Skillnet grants.
In line with Government policy to support workforce upskilling and commitment to roll out the Education and Training Board led Skills to Advance programme to target existing employees with limited formal qualifications, additional funding of €6.3m will be also be provided for an additional 3,000 employees in this area through focussed initiatives targeting employers, individual employees and sectoral and regional responses via a competitive call. Along with the established Skills for Work programme this will bring the total funding for the provision of ETB run employee skills devlopment inititatives to €20.3m.
135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an arrangement has been put in place for bundle five PPP schools that sets a limit of 300 hours for the availability of the school after 6 p.m. in the evening; the names and locations of schools built under PPP with such an arrangement; the extent to which these arrangements apply to the main school building; and if separate arrangements apply to playing pitches and other school facilities. [42839/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the schools PPP projects, a PPP company is contracted to provide a range of services at the schools, including caretaking, fire safety, security, cleaning and maintenance, during the standard school year, typically between 8am and 6pm. The PPP company’s contract price also includes an allowance for such services to be provided at the discretion of the school principal for out of hours activities (i.e. after 6 pm), including the use of pitches and external facilities.
On the Schools PPP Bundle 5 project this allowance is 350 hours which is typical across the PPP schools projects. This is a standard feature of all PPP schools contracts that aims to achieve a balance between the availability of the school facilities outside of normal school hours and value for money in the PPP contract price.
In addition, access to schools is generally available at all times to the school principal and school employees.
There are currently 32 schools operating in the PPP model, details of which are provided in the table at the link. For completeness, it should be noted that a Further Education College was also delivered as part of the Schools Bundle 5 project.
136. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of capital projects that cost €100 million or more in the past five years; the cost of outside consultants for each of the projects costing €100 million or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42866/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Skills has not funded any individual capital projects costing more than €100 million and that were completed during the period 2015 to date.
137. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of capital projects anticipated to commence in the next five years that cost €100 million or more; the expected cost of external consultants for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42882/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe vast majority of individual capital projects funded by the Department have a capital value of less than €100 million. There are currently three projects in the higher education sector approved/approved in principle for funding by the Department that have an estimated total project cost of greater than €100 million and that will be delivered in the next five years.
Programme II of the Grangegorman development is scheduled for completion in mid-2020 and has a total construction cost of approximately €220m ex VAT. The projects, which are being delivered under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, comprise the Central and East Quads and will together provide some 52,000 m2 of academic space for TU Dublin.
The cost of external consultants supporting the Authority on this project has been in the region of €8m to date. This has included the full range of architectural, QS and engineering skills which are essential to the design and planning of any major construction project.
In addition, two of five projects recently approved in principle for co-funding under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund will involve total investments of over €100m. The projects are UCC – Cork Business School (CUBS) Project and UCD – Future Campus Project. Exchequer funding of up to €25m has been approved for each of the projects in question, with the balance of funding to be provided by HEIs from their own resources, borrowing and philanthropy.
As these projects are still at an early stage of development, it is not possible at this point to provide cost estimates for external consultants.
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) can qualify for higher education grants or the back to education allowance in view of the fact that the person has already undertaken private courses and is unable to progress further due to costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42902/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department's Student Grant Scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme.
The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2019.
To satisfy the terms and conditions in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.
Further information in relation to student grant assistance is available from SUSI’s website (www.susi.ie) or by contacting the SUSI Helpdesk, telephone 0761 087 874.
Tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private colleges. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
The determination of eligibility for assistance under the Back to Education Allowance is a matter for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which his Department is meeting the needs of children at primary and post-primary level as identified by the various school authorities in Maynooth, County Kildare, with specific reference to each school project or proposal to date; when the projects will reach fruition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42906/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large building projects, including those in Maynooth Co. Kildare being delivered under the school building programme is available on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
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. All school capital projects that have been approved by my Department under the Additional Accommodation Scheme, may also be viewed on my Department's website and this is updated regularly.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which the need for primary and post-primary school places as identified by the various school authorities in Leixlip, County Kildare, continues to be met in full; the arrangement in place to meet deficiencies; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42907/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current identified requirement in respect of primary and secondary school places in Naas, County Kildare; the degree to which each project is progressing or failing; the number of places involved; when all the accommodation as set out will be available for occupation in line with the requests of the local school authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42909/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current identified requirement in respect of primary and secondary school places in Clane, County Kildare; the degree to which each project is progressing or failing; the number of places involved; when all the accommodation as set out will be available for occupation in line with the requests of the local school authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42910/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current identified requirement in respect of primary and secondary school places in Prosperous, County Kildare; the degree to which each project is progressing or failing; the number of places involved; when all the accommodation as set out will be available for occupation in line with the requests of the local school authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42911/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current identified requirement in respect of primary and secondary school places in Sallins, County Kildare; the degree to which each project is progressing or failing; the number of places involved; when all the accommodation as set out will be available for occupation in line with the requests of the local school authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42912/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which the current primary and second level school accommodation at Kilcock, County Kildare, continues to meet the requirements and demographics set out by the various school authorities; the proposals to assess these issues; the progress therein in respect of each case with a view to meeting in full as required the places necessary now and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42914/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he is meeting the primary school place requirements at Newtown, Enfield, Johnstown Bridge, Tirmohan, Rathcoffey and Donadea, County Kildare, in view of the increased need arising from demographics; the position regarding each school project; when increased facilities as required are likely to become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42915/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 142 to 145, inclusive, 147 and 148 together.
In 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.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in an area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, the Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential developments in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes as there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
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, in April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022) including the following new schools to serve the areas referred to by the Deputy:
- a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Leixlip school planning area,
- a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2021 to serve the Naas school planning area.
- a new 500 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Kilcock school planning area to be located in Enfield.
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.
The requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout 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.
Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
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. Details of schools listed on this programme can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie and this information is also updated regularly.
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position in regarding to the provision of accommodation, new school buildings, refurbishment or upgrade in respect of primary and post-primary schools in Celbridge, County Kildare, with particular reference to when all facilities will be ready for occupation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42908/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under project Ireland 2040. I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under project Ireland 2040 may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
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. Details of schools listed on this programme can be found on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this information is also updated regularly.
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the location and provision of the anticipated Gaelcoláiste for north County Kildare; the extent to which the arrangements have to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42913/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the planned new Gaelcholáiste to which the Deputy refers, the school patron, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, had deferred the opening of this new school from September 2019 to September 2020 for operational reasons.
The ETB has indicated that a high number of expressions of interest for September 2020 have been received and that enrolment will commence in November 2019 for September 2020. The ETB is currently in the process of advertising for a school Principal.
It is envisaged that the new Gaelcholáiste will be located on the current Maynooth Post Primary School/Maynooth Community College property, which will be coming available as these schools move to the Maynooth Education Campus.
