QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a new school building for a school (details supplied); 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. (Details Supplied) Hedgestown National School for Balbriggan, County Dublin

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 the position regarding the progress on a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, Co Dublin.

REPLY

As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.

Officials in my Department have contacted officials in Fingal County Council for assistance under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site.  Negotiations with relevant landowners in respect of the potential acquisition of the zoned post primary school site at that location is currently underway.

Officials in both my Department and the Council are working to progress matters as quickly as possible, in cognisance of the school’s current accommodation constraints .

It is difficult to indicate a timeline for the completion of the acquisition of a site for the school in question as it is dependent on the outcome of current negotiations and also on the complexity of the conveyancing process.

Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions, it is not possible to comment further at this stage.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Malahide / Portmarnock Educate Together National School

REPLY

As the Deputy is aware, with the assistance of officials in Fingal County Council, agreement in principle has been reached with the landowner in respect to the acquisition of a permanent site at Broomfield, Malahide to accommodate the school to which he refers.

The project to deliver the permanent accommodation for this school at this location is on my Department's Design and Build Programme and is currently at architectural planning stage. 

In the interim my officials continue to work to complete the transfer of the site into my ownership

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress for the delivery of a new school for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St Michael's Special School Skerries

REPLY

The Deputy will be aware that a building project to provide a permanent school building for the school in question is included in my Department's 6-year Construction Programme.

A site is required for this purpose and the acquisition of a proposed site is currently at an advanced stage. In tandem with this, a schedule of accommodation for the proposed new school has been devised and shared with the school authority. My Department is seeking to advance the project into the architectural planning process and will be in contact with the school authority in this regard in due course.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the extension and refurbishment of a school (details supplied) will proceed to the tender and build stage without further delay by granting the school rapid build status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St Finian's Community College

REPLY

As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education & Training Board (DDLETB).   DDLETB, in consultation with the Department, is progressing the project as quickly as possible. There are no plans to change the method for delivering the project in that context.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Gaeilscoil Ros Eo, Rush, Co Dublin.

REPLY

As the Deputy may be aware, agreement in principle has been reached in respect to the acquisition of a permanent site to accommodate the school to which he refers.

My officials are currently working to complete the transfer of the site into my ownership.

Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions, it is unfortunately not possible to comment further at this stage. 

 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the refurbishment and provision of an extension for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
 
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the start date for prefab replacement for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
 
Details Supplied: the Portmarnock community school in County Dublin
 
REPLY.
 
A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme. 
 
A project brief has been finalised and the project will be delivered via the ADAPT programme which is an innovative delivery programme first introduced by my Department in 2016.  It uses a professional external Project Manager to coordinate and drive the respective design teams on each project.
 
In this regard, a tender competition is in train to establish a Project Manager framework which is expected to be in place shortly. Once the framework is in place a tender competition to appoint the Project Manager for the ADAPT programme will commence.
 
Prefabs currently in use at the school in question will be replaced with permanent accommodation as part of the major project.
 
My Department will be contacting the school shortly to provide an update on the status of the project.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to establish additional ASD units in the primary schools in Kinsealy, Malahide and Portmarnock; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

Individual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes.  It is open to any school in the area to make application to the National Council for Special education (NCSE) to establish a class.

The National Council for Special Education, an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.

The NCSE’s team of locally based Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents whose children have special needs and identify available placements. They also support and advise schools in this area. Parents who are experiencing difficulties in locating a special class placement, should contact their local SENO.

 In deciding where to establish a special class in an area, the NCSE take account of the current and projected demand and the available school accommodation both current and planned.   In this regard, the SENO may approach individual schools to discuss the matter with a view to finding the optimal location in terms of convenience and sustainability.

When the NCSE sanction a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation.

From time to time, the NCSE identifies local areas where additional special class provision is required. In those circumstances, Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved. This process is ongoing and the NCSE are actively engaging with schools in relation to establishing ASD classes where there is an identified need for the 2019/2020 school year.

160 new special classes have been opened for the 2018/19 school year, which means there are now 1,459 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011.

There are 237 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Dublin. Of these, 17 are ASD early intervention classes, 139 are primary ASD classes and 41 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Dublin have increased from 66 in 2011/2012 to 197 in 2018/2019. There are 6 primary special classes in the areas referred to by the Deputy, comprising 1 Early Intervention ASD class and 2 ASD primary classes. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available on www.ncse.ie. 

My Department is aware that the establishment of special provision in some schools and communities can be challenging.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 will assist in addressing this issue in areas where the NCSE is of the opinion that there is insufficient education provision for children with special educational needs.

Section 8 of the Act provides the Minister with a power, after a process of consultation with the NCSE, the board of management and the patron of the school, to compel a school to make additional provision for the education of children with special educational needs

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the progress on a permanent school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Rush National School, Rush, Co. Dublin

REPLY

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 2b - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approval and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory applications 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.

The Design Team will then complete the tender documents and submit the Stage 2b report to my Department. 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 to tender stage.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the works to provide a new school building for a school (details supplied) in addition to the associated refurbishment works will commence as a matter of urgent priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) St Molaga's National School, Balbriggan, Co Dublin

REPLY

A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme. 

A project brief has been finalised and the project will be delivered via the ADAPT programme which is an innovative delivery programme first introduced by my Department in 2016.  It uses a professional external Project Manager to coordinate and drive the respective design teams on each project.

In this regard, a tender competition is in train to establish a Project Manager framework which is expected to be in place shortly. Tenders have been returned and are currently being evaluated.

Whilst the Department must adhere to the Public Procurement rules for the appointment of consultant Design Teams the Building Unit will expedite this process in so far as possible.

My Department issued a letter dated 19th March 2019 to the school in order to provide an update on the status of the project.