QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of a new school for Balbriggan, County Dublin; the stage at which the project is at; when construction will commence on the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY

The 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.
 
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 current Building Regulations.
 
Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) submission, my Department will revert to the Board of Management regarding the progression of the project.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the lack of secondary school places in north County Dublin, specifically in Malahide, Kinsealy, Portmarnock and Swords; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects, including those in North County Dublin, being delivered under the school building programme 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, 2 Post Primary schools have been established to provide additional school capacity in the Malahide/Portmarnock and Swords area in North County Dublin. These schools opened in temporary accommodation in September 2018.
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. In this regard, I can confirm that my Department has recently received applications for such funding from two Post Primary schools in North County Dublin. These applications will be assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities when the assessment process has been completed.
All school capital projects that have been approved by my Department under the Additional Accommodation Scheme, may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.education.ie, and this is updated regularly.