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. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if priority will be awarded to the delivery of a new school site and new school building for St. Joseph's secondary school in Rush; and if he will make a statement on the matter. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new school building for a school St. Joseph's secondary school in Rush; the contacts he has had with Fingal County Council in relation to acquiring a site for the new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school to which he refers is included on my Department's capital programme. My Department is currently engaging with the school Trustees in relation to the requirement for a site to facilitate the project. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the appointment of an architect to a school project (details supplied) will be prioritised in order that the school can proceed to planning without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Hedgestown National School Capital Project REPLY The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2 (b) - Detailed Design. The tender process to appoint a replacement architect for this project was completed on 26th July 2018. The replacement architect is currently reviewing the Stage 2(b) tender documentation. The Design Team is also working on the completion of a submission to the Department outlining the steps required to ensure the new school building will be a Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in compliance with Part L of the current Building Regulations. The Department understands from the consultant architect that a planning application for photovoltaic (PV) cells will be needed to meet NZEB requirements and work on this is currently being progressed by the Design Team. Upon receipt and review of the revised Stage 2(b) submission, which will include the Design Team's NZEB proposal, the Department will revert to the school regarding the further progression of the project. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding 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 school to which he refers is included in my Department’s 6 year Capital Programme. The acquisition of a suitable site is required to facilitate this project. My Department is engaging with the school Patron in this regard. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY As the Deputy may be aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together Secondary School is included on my Department's capital programme. A site acquisition is required to facilitate this project. Department officials have been liaising with officials from Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites with a view to securing a suitable site for this school. With Council officials' assistance such a suitable site has been identified and my Department is working to progress its acquisition. In tandem with this, the school building project has been advanced into the architectural planning process. Department officials continue to keep the school patron, Educate Together, appraised of progress. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for the proposed school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY A site has been acquired for the permanent location for the new school referred to by the Deputy. The building project is currently out to tender with a tender return date of 1st November 2018. When the tender process is complete the project will then proceed to construction. The school has opened in September 2018 within existing school accommodation. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Hedgestown National School, Balbriggan REPLY The lands at the site for the major building project, as referred to by the Deputy, were purchased by the St. Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust, on behalf of the Board of Management. An initial site adjacent to the school, was procured from Fingal County Council and transferred ownership on 1st June 2017. The second site was purchased from a private vendor and ownership transferred on 18th October 2017. My Department received copies of the deeds of transfer in November 2017. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding 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 referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) 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 upgrading the detail to NZEB standards. The Design Team is currently finalising the detailed design for preparation of the tender documents. 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 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 is aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme. Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site for this school. Discussions with relevant parties regarding the potential acquisition of a preferred site option are at an advanced stage and my Department is working to progress matters as expeditiously as possible. |
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All Parlamientary Questions I make about schools in Dublin Fingal and their answers can be viewed in this section Archives
December 2019
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