Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
78. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the planning permission applications for two schools (details supplied); if they are being prioritised by her Department to reflect the shortage of secondary school places in the wider area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6257/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to ask about two school extension projects in the Kilcoole and Greystones area. Coláiste Chraobh Abhann has planning permission and is waiting to go to the stage to build the extension. The other is Temple Carrig School in Blacklion in Greystones which is waiting to go into the planning process. The Minister will be well aware of the issue we have with schools in the Greystones and Kilcoole area. I ask her to update me on those two extension projects.
Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 800 school building projects. Construction is under way on approximately 300 projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. These 300 projects at construction involve a total State investment of in excess of €1.2 billion. There are also 90 projects at the tender process including a further 28 new school buildings. All of these new school buildings are flagship projects in their area and will transform the education infrastructure for those school communities. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
The permanent building project for Greystones Community College will deliver a new 1,000-pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms for children with special educational needs. The project is being delivered under my Department's design and build programme and is at tender stage. The invitation to tender for the project issued in April 2023 as part of a bundle of projects for ten schools issued to the Department's framework of design and build contractors. Given the scale of works involving new purpose-built accommodation for ten schools, some of which are on-campus sites, the tender process involves a very large volume of documentation and drawings and takes approximately eight to 12 months. Tender returns have been received and are being evaluated. Given the scale of this investment, this tender evaluation process by the Department's technical staff and project management team takes time to work through properly.
The Department is very conscious of the importance of getting these projects, including the project for Greystones Community College, delivered as quickly as possible. The tender evaluation process is well advanced and will be coming to a conclusion shortly. Once the contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction will commence shortly thereafter. The construction duration for the project is estimated at 65 weeks. The Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses.
Requirements for school places are kept under ongoing review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
I am delighted to hear the Minister refer to 1,000-pupil Greystones Community College project which is also part of the of the building mix required in Greystones. However, my question related to the extensions for Temple Carrig School and to Coláiste Chraobh Abhann. They are all part of the mix. As the Minister knows, every year we go through this frantic process of trying to find school places in Greystones.
Coláiste Chraobh Abhann has planning permission and I think is at stage 2B of process. We really need that process to be speeded up so that extension can go ahead to provide another 200 places. Temple Carrig has not yet entered the planning process and is at stage 1. I appreciate the different stages in the public spending code, but we have this crunch every year Greystones. If possible, I would like to see those two projects prioritised and speeded up as well as Greystones Community College, which will provide a 1,000-pupil school. That will actually solve the school places issue in Greystones, Kilcoole and north Wicklow in the long term.
I appreciate the importance of the provision of school places. As I mentioned, there has been a significant investment by the Department of Education, with more than €4.2 billion over the years since this Government came into office. A sum of €1.2 billion has been allocated this year for works at various stages of construction.
There is significant demand for places in areas where there has been exponential growth in housing. I acknowledge the co-operation we have received from schools on the ground. For example, a few days ago there was announcement of an additional 47 places being made available to accommodate first-year students in this area. More will be done when clearer numbers for the requirements are made available to us in the area the Deputy mentioned.
On the two schools the Deputy mentioned, it is a priority for the Department to deliver all projects in a timely and efficient manner and to meet the needs. Where we are not in a position to meet the needs immediately, we provide modular accommodation.
