Written Answers Nos. 179-203
179. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of additional special needs units in primary schools in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4097/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is not aware of a shortage of special education places in Co Wexford.
Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year. There are currently 60 special classes in Co. Wexford, 15 in post primary and 45 in primary schools.
167 new special classes have been established nationally for 2019/20 school year.
A list of special classes for September 2019 is available on the NCSE website at:
https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NCSE-List-of-Special-Classes-for-September-2019.pdf
Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard.
The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need for 2020/2021 school year. This process is ongoing.
Normally, special class and special school places 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 NCSE has faced challenges in getting schools and their patrons to voluntarily agree to provide special class or school places.
I know that this can cause much anguish for parents and families involved.
Last year, the NCSE indicated that parents in Dublin 15, South Dublin, Kildare and Cork were experiencing difficulty securing school places for their children.
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 has been used twice in Dublin to address shortages of special class and school places.
The legislation contains a procedure through which the NCSE can test the capacity of schools in an area to provide more special education places and through which ultimately a Ministerial direction can be made requiring a school to make additional special education places available. The Act prescribes a set of steps to follow which includes extensive consultation with schools and their patron bodies.
The initial step in the process is for the NCSE to inform the Minister that there is a shortage of places in a particular area.
The NCSE will only activate the legislation after it has taken all reasonable efforts to get schools and their Patrons to voluntarily agree to provide additional special class or school places.
I would prefer to see schools volunteer to provide more places rather than places being secured on the back of an order or a direction from me. It is the right thing for the children in a community.
The NCSE's Local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs in relation to special class provision.
180. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the establishment of a technological university for the south-east; the position regarding the creation of a campus in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4102/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra241. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage in the process regarding the application for status as a technological university by Waterford Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology, Carlow; the next steps in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4789/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 241 together.
As autonomous, independent higher education institutions it remains a matter for individual institutes of technology that are engaged in a consortium seeking to progress proposals for technological university designation under the 2018 Act to progress their proposals appropriately subject to their particular circumstances. Upon establishment, the siting of its multi-campuses are a matter for the relevant TU.
I understand that the TUSEI consortium, comprising IT Carlow and Waterford IT, is continuing to work towards the submission of an application seeking TU designation under the Act as expeditiously as possible. This accords with my view that it is essential that all TU development consortia accelerate and intensify their work to achieve designation and in so doing demonstrate a strongly integrated and cohesive approach to the delivery of TUs for their regions.
181. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied) will be given consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4104/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, a major project to provide an extension to the school in question is included in my Department's building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). It is intended that the project , when completed, will provide capacity for 1,000 students.
In the meantime, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved additional interim accommodation for the school. The installation of this accommodation will be managed by the school's patron and my Department understands that arrangements are in train to appoint a Consultant to oversee the project.
182. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the construction of a new school (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4107/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on the Department's Capital Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP) and a site is being acquired for this purpose.
My Department is engaging directly with the school in the context of the planning work associated with the project.
183. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a SNA will be provided for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4142/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21. The arrangements include the following provisions:
- 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations will be frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and will automatically rollover into the 2020/21 school year. This means that no school will receive an allocation less than that which they have on the date of issue of this Circular and existing SNAs currently in standard SNA posts can continue in these posts for the next school year in the normal way.
- Schools may apply to the NCSE for additionality where they can demonstrate that the current allocation does not meet additional care needs within the mainstream classes in the school. Applications for additionality arising from significant new or emerging additional care needs, which cannot be catered within existing allocations, will be dealt with by way of an exceptional review process.
- A diagnosis of a disability, or a psychological or other professional report, will not be necessary for this process.
- The role of the SNA to support the care needs of students in mainstream classes, as set out in Circular 0030/2014, remains unchanged.
It is expected that schools will review and reprioritise the deployment of SNAs within mainstream settings and allocate resources to ensure those with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of support. Providing access to SNA support continues to be based on primary care needs as outlined in DES Circular 0030/2014.
Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE will endeavour to respond to all applications for exceptional review received prior to 22nd May 2020 by 30th June 2020 and in that regard, it will prioritise applications from schools with no current SNA allocation and developing schools. Applications for an Exceptional Review received after 22 May 2020 will continue to be processed once all other applications have been completed.
The exceptional review process for mainstream allocations will be available to schools throughout the 2020/21 school year.
As this question relates to a particular school, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply. I do not have a role in making determinations in individual cases.
A new frontloading model for allocating Special Needs Assistants to primary and post primary schools for students in mainstream classes only was to be introduced in the 2020/21 school year as part of the phased roll out of the School Inclusion Model (SIM). Due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 public health crisis, the introduction of the model has been deferred for one year.
184. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4167/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved funding for a project, under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019, for six mainstream classrooms including en-suite WCs, two SET rooms, and one Assisted Users WC.
I can further advise the Deputy that this project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and is currently at the design stage. It is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance this project in that context.
185. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will be granted the July provision in 2020; and if not, the reason for not being granted the provision which will assist them greatly. [4188/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile it had been my Department’s intention to run the extended school year (ESY) scheme – also known as the July Provision Scheme – this year if possible, given the current school closures and public health restrictions, my Department is now reviewing this.
My Department is considering contingency measures, including changes to the format of the scheme. Any changes will be communicated widely.
186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an extension will be granted to the term of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4199/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe assignment of HSCL Coordinators is addressed in my Department's Circular 0016/2019 "Home School Community Liaison Scheme: Assignment of Home School Community Liaison Coordinators within DEIS schools." .
The Circular specifies that "A teacher shall be assigned to the post of HSCL Coordinator for a maximum of 5 years to be completed on the 31st August of the fifth year. All assignments are subject to the HSCL allocation to the school(s), by the Department. It is the requirement that the HSCL Coordinator post be opened to application to eligible staff in the school(s) every 5 years".
The circular further states: "Having served the maximum period of 5 years allowed in the post, the existing HSCL Coordinator may not re-apply immediately for the HSCL Coordinator position. A HSCL Coordinator must vacate the HSCL position for a minimum period of 3 years before he/she is eligible to re-apply for the HSCL post".
The rotational nature of the assignment gives all staff members the opportunity to apply to serve as a HSCL in order for them to gain insight and experience of educational disadvantage first hand, thereby providing them with an understanding of the background, family and community life of the children they teach.
187. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the minimum number of contact and-or class hours each lecturer is obliged to undertake in each university and institute of technology; if he is satisfied that such hours are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4209/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the employment contract for Assistant Lecturers in the Institute of Technology/Technological University sector, an Assistant Lecturer teaches such assigned classes as deemed appropriate by management, day or evening, up to 630 hours per annum, with a norm of 18 class contact hours per week. The equivalent figures for Lecturers in that sector are 560 hours per annum with a norm of 16 class contact hours per week.
Within the university sector, workload allocation models are used to encompass the teaching, research and administration duties of lecturing staff and are a matter for the individual university concerned. Accordingly, the specific detail sought by the Deputy is not available within my Department.
188. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an emergency works application for a school (details supplied) for new windows and outside wall reconstruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4238/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that an application for funding under the Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme has been approved in respect of structural works at the school in question. As this is a devolved project it is now a matter for the school authority to progress these works.
189. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent, including expenditure from the Bus Éireann surplus on services (details supplied) with a value of over €25,000 for each item; if the expenditure went out to public tender under legislation or guidelines in each of the years 2005 to 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4241/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are 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 €219m in 2019.
The 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements forms the basis of the payment to Bus Éireann for the operation of the School Transport Scheme. The school transport scheme is a demand-led service based on the number of eligible children who apply to avail of transport. Reimbursement to Bus Éireann is on a cost recovery basis on the costs associated with the School transport Scheme.
The Department works with Bus Éireann to analyse costs to the scheme on an on-going basis and each year the company produces an audited statement of account. This ensures that the financial information provided by Bus Éireann is in accordance with the relevant summary of accounting arrangements. Actual expenditure is finalised in the Bus Éireann annual statement of account which is independently audited by the Bus Éireann auditors in accordance with the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements . Balances, where they occur, are accounted for in the following year’s projected cost.
The nature of the arrangements with Bus Éireann in respect of the School Transport Scheme involves the Company recovering direct and indirect costs. These costs are referred to as the Transport Management Charge (TMC). The TMC was designed to compensate Bus Éireann for costs involved in running the School Transport Scheme which are not billed separately to the Department. The reason that these costs are not billed on a standalone basis is that significant indirect costs are not as easily identified as they are shared across business units and therefore had be allocated to each business unit on a fair and equitable basis.
Based on the 1975 Arrangements this Transport management charge was set at 13% of certain direct costs, which meant that any increase in the direct cost base resulted in an increase in indirect costs payable by the Department to Bus Éireann. This resulted in a surplus on the uncommitted reserve for the school transport scheme when the actual charges were lower than the agreed TMC in any one year. In any given year this balance was ring-fenced entirely for expenditure on the school transport scheme for investment on enhancements in a number of areas of the scheme in recent years, including IT, customer service and investment in fleet. Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with the European Directives on public procurement.
190. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider submitting a request for a day of remembrance or commemoration to acknowledge the experience of persons abused in residential institutions here as per the Schedule contained in the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4260/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe abuse that occurred in residential institutions is thoroughly documented in the Ryan Report with chapters on the history of institutions, the administration and financing of those institutions, the role of the Department of Education and Skills, and the different congregations involved in the running of those institutions. Volume III documents the demographic and social circumstances of witnesses before their admission to the institutions, their experiences and reports of abuse while in the institutions and their life following discharge from the institutions.
Since the publication of the Ryan Report many other pathways to Institutionalisation have been disclosed including Magdalen Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes.
While there are currently no specific plans for a National Day for survivors of abuse in the institutions scheduled in the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 it may be worthwhile for a whole of Government approach to be examined to appropriately remember and recognise the pain suffered in the past.
191. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [4264/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
My Department submitted an application for planning permission to the Local Authority on 26th September 2019. A Request for Further Information was received on 20th November 2019 and My Department's Project Management team are actively working on this request.
Once all issues have been addressed the RFI response will be issued to the Local Authority and a decision will then be awaited.
192. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [4270/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major project for the construction of the new school building for the school referred to by the deputy is at an advanced stage of the tender process and my Department is currently awaiting the return of the supplementary tender report.
Subject to no issues arising and contingent upon the current restrictions being lifted, it is envisaged that construction should commence following the finalisation of the tender process with a contract duration of approximately 20 months.
The tender process for the provision of the second phase of the temporary accommodation on the existing school site has completed and the Letter of Acceptance has issued.
193. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [4271/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm for the Deputy that my Department is currently undertaking a site identification exercise in order to appraise suitable sites for the school to which you refer. This exercise is being conducted in line with current restrictions in place due to the covid-19 pandemic, nevertheless, my officials are making progress on the exercise. Due to obvious commercial sensitivities, I cannot elaborate any further at this juncture but please rest assured that the project is being given due consideration and attention.
194. 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. [4272/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) 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 recently submitted the Stage 2(b) Report to the Department for review.
Upon completion of this review, the Department will revert to the school regarding the further progression of this major building project.
195. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the provision of new ASD units at both primary and secondary schools in south County Kildare; the locations of the new units; and the timeframe expected for delivery. [4273/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism.
167 new special classes have been established nationally for 2019/20 school year of which approximately 156 are new autism special classes, comprising 6 Early Intervention, 100 primary, and 50 post-primary autism classes.
There are currently 77 special classes in Co Kildare, of which 18 are post primary, all ASD and 59 are primary of which 6 are ASD early intervention and 48 are ASD.
A list of special classes for September 2019 is available on the NCSE website at:
https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NCSE-List-of-Special-Classes-for-September-2019.pdf
Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard.
The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.
Normally, special class and school places 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 NCSE has faced challenges in getting schools and their patrons to voluntarily agree to provide special class or school places.
I know that this can cause much anguish for parents and families involved.
Last year, the NCSE indicated that parents in Dublin 15, South Dublin, Kildare and Cork were experiencing difficulty securing school places for their children.
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 has been used twice in Dublin to address shortages of special class and school places.
The legislation contains a procedure through which the NCSE can test the capacity of schools in an area to provide more special education places and through which ultimately a Ministerial direction can be made requiring a school to make additional special education places available. The Act prescribes a set of steps to follow which includes extensive consultation with schools and their patron bodies.
The initial step in the process is for the NCSE to inform the Minister that there is a shortage of places in a particular area.
The NCSE will only activate the legislation after it has taken all reasonable efforts to get schools and their Patrons to voluntarily agree to provide additional special class or school places.
I would prefer to see schools volunteer to provide more places rather than places being secured on the back of an order or a direction from me. It is the right thing for the children in a community.
The NCSE's Local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs in relation to special class provision.
196. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Skills the planned opening date for the new secondary school for the Blanchardstown village and Blanchardstown west school planning areas (details supplied); if a permanent site for the school has been identified; if the school will open on its permanent site; if not, if a temporary location has been identified for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4298/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is 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 post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Blanchardstown_West_D15 and BlanchardstownVge_D15 school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement followed nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.
The patronage process for this new school is complete and patronage was awarded to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) in December 2019.
In line with the policy on the use of State assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16) my Department is seeking to maximize the use of sites already in its ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.
Identified site options are currently being considered by my Department. Unfortunately, due to certain sensitivities I am not in a position to indicate their location at this time, however, the proposed location for the school will be made known as soon as it is possible to do so.
The school will open in suitable interim accommodation for the start of the next academic year 2020/2021. A planning application was lodged with Fingal County Council on 1 April 2020 for interim start-up accommodation for the school on Department owned lands at the back of Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School, Barnhill, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 and a decision is awaited.
197. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to invest in upgrades or a new building for a school (details supplied) which is operating out of prefabs which have been in situ for the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4330/20]
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 has appointed a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which currently contains 18 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 has been completed.
The Design Team is currently working on Stage 1 of Architectural Planning which includes Site Report, Site Suitability and producing Initial Sketch Schemes. The Stage 1 Presentation to the Department has been scheduled for mid-June.
198. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to invest in upgrade works to a school building (details supplied) which as of 2019 has been deemed faulty following a review of the build; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4331/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that a remediation solution for Ardgillan Community College has been finalised. I can confirm that the process of finalising a programme plan to complete the design phase for this work is at an advanced stage.
The remediation solution will involve the existing steel frame, floors, roof and internal walls remaining in place (and being remediated where appropriate) and the external wall envelope being removed and replaced. The project will also include some changes to the internal layout which will assist the future operation of the school.
The School Authorities and the Patron body have been kept fully updated on the matter.
199. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the development of a school (details supplied) in relation to providing a new building for increasing capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4332/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. Statutory approvals in relation to the permanent new school build have been secured.
Following the appointment of a replacement consultant architect, the Design Team has reviewed the previous Stage 2(b) documentation and is currently upgrading the design to ensure that the new school building is a Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in compliance with the 2017 amendment to Part L of the Building Regulations.
The Design Team is also finalising the detail in relation to the provision of temporary accommodation and playground facilities during the construction of the new school building. Statutory approvals in relation to these are currently being prepared by the Design Team.
Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) submission, my Department will revert to the Board of Management regarding the further progression of the project at that time.
200. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the land acquisition for a new building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4333/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.
I am pleased to inform you the acquisition of a reserved school site at Kenure, Rush, Co. Dublin, has closed.
This site will act as the permanent location for both St Joseph’s Rush RN: 60343T and Gael Scoil Ros Eo RN: 20334R as a campus arrangement.
The building project can now progress to architectural planning stage.
201. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his long-term plans to invest in extra capacity for second-level students in Skerries, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4334/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is reviewing the accommodation needs of the area in question in order to cater for an agreed Long Term Projected Enrolment (LTPE) of 1300 pupils.
On completion of the assessment process a decision will be conveyed to the school authority in writing. I can also confirm that additional interim accommodation will be provided to the school, in the short-term, to cater for increased enrolment pending delivery of the permanent school building.
202. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the land acquisition for a new building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4335/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the acquisition of a site for the school in question is at an advanced stage in the conveyancing process.
My officials are working to bring it the conveyancing process to a conclusion at the earliest possible date. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions, it is not possible to comment further at this time.
203. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the timeline for the provision of the new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4390/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraA 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 will be delivered via the ADAPT Programme, and is currently at an advanced Stage of the Tender Process. A Stage 3 Tender Report is currently with my Department for assessment. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence in the 2nd quarter of 2020, with a construction period of approximately 20 months.
