Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
807. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the total cost of rent spent on accommodating a school (details supplied) in temporary accommodation since it was founded in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41981/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra808. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the total cost of rent spent on accommodating a school (details supplied) in another building in Tramore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41982/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra809. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the total amount of rent her Department intends to spend on accommodating a school (details supplied) in another building in Tramore until it moves to a final and permanent location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41983/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra810. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the total spent on works associated with the tenancy of a school (details supplied) in another building in Tramore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41984/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra811. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the breakdown of purchase, construction and fit-out costs forecast for accommodating a school (details supplied) in its final and permanent location in Tramore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41985/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 807 to 811, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy, that the school in school in question opened in 2014 in interim accommodation on a split site basis, comprising a premises formerly occupied by the HSE (Tramore Health Centre) and on part of the former Stella Maris Secondary School property which is now under private ownership. The total cost of rent to date amounts to €496,459.25.
While it is the policy of my Department to ensure a high standard of permanent accommodation for all schools, in the context of a rapidly increasing school population over the last decade or more it is sometimes necessary to make use of temporary accommodation to meet the accommodation needs of schools.
Many schools based in rented buildings and on rented sites are already part of the pipeline of projects under the school building programme and their longer-term accommodation will be addressed as part of these projects. Maximising the opportunities to achieve value for money involves matching, as best as possible, the accommodation requirement with the appropriate accommodation solution. This is relevant for all accommodation projects progressed by the Department.
I can confirm that the school in question were granted approval for reconfiguration interim works in the former Stella Maris School Building under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2020. These works are now complete and payments totalling €189,000 have been made to the Educate Together Head Office in that respect.
I can also confirm to the Deputy, that the planned permanent accommodation for the school in question is a school property which was formerly used by Glor na Mara primary school. This property is currently undergoing a building retrofit project which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The Department of Education and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency and decarbonisation retrofit approaches. This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.
This Pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national schools’ programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan. It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options, which will have been tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the schools’ sector.
This programme continues to assist the Department to identify and test solutions for decarbonised energy efficiency solutions in our schools, to support the Climate Action Plan.
The longer-term outcome of the pathfinder will be to create an accurate and scalable model for energy efficient retrofits of schools across Ireland. The deep energy retrofit programme for schools built prior to 2008 is due to be rolled out as included in the National Development Plan.
This school is one of the Pathfinder projects and works includes external wall and roof insulation, new high performance windows and doors, new ventilation systems with heat recovery, new heating system including air source heat pump, new flooring, upgraded classroom sinks/ wet area electrical upgrade, new LED lighting, new emergency lighting and wiring and fire detection, toilets upgrade, air tightness works, fire safety works, new suspended ceilings, and new fitted furniture.
The school energy upgrade and refurbishment costs are in the region of €2.1 M plus VAT and Design Team fees. The current retro-fit and refurbishment project will ensure that the school takes occupancy of a modern and energy efficient building.
Having considered the long-term accommodation needs for the school, my Department has also acquired additional land beside the Glor na Mara property site to facilitate the provision of additional accommodation on this site. In this way the school will have sufficient accommodation between the retrofitted Glor na Mara building and the newly built accommodation on this site. This will secure the long term needs of the school in question.
In the interim, the school will continue to rent a portion of the Stella Maris building. The scope of accommodation required will be decreased upon completion of the retrofit programme and the cost for this reduced accommodation is currently being negotiated with the landowner.
