There is still no answer from the Minister of Education about when the planned second level school for Castaheany will open its doors to students.
The Minister stated in reply to a parliamentary question by Deputy Joan Burton (see below) that they have requested the VEC to submit their accommodation requirements so that temporary arrangements can be made for the school to start before the completion of the permanent buildings.
The Minister for Education told Deputy Burton that the permanent buildings for the planned new second level school in Castaheany/Phibblestown are targeted for completion in time for the 2009/2010 year.
The Minister stated that the procurement process for a designer of the new school is well advanced and a Design and Build contractor will soon be appointed to design and build the new school.
Deputy Burton said, “6000 new houses have been built in the Ongar Castaheany area, and all of the families that moved into these homes are depending on the speedy construction of this new second level school.”
“The Minister has recently launched another multi-million plan for investment in Education. This particular site has been reserved for 10 years now without a brick being laid. I am calling on the Minister to direct the huge resources at her disposal to fast track the construction of this new second level school so that local pupils can start attending the school at the earliest possible date”.
Uimhir:1459
Ceist Pharlaiminte
Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the new post primary school
for Phibblestown will start; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
– Joan Burton.
* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 31st January, 2007.
Reference Number: 1147/07
Freagra
Minister for Education and Science (Mary Hanafin, T.D.)
I have given the go ahead for a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school in
Phibblestown, Dublin 15. This new school will be delivered along with new
schools in Donabate and Laytown under a design and build contract that is aimed
at delivering 3,000 school places for these rapidly developing areas. The
inclusion of these three projects in one bundle will further facilitate the
achievement of value for money.
The Phibblestown school has taken longer than expected due to difficulties in
acquiring the site. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of my
Department’s partnership with Fingal County Council the site purchase can now
be concluded. The site is almost 8.5 acres in size and the legalities on the
site purchase will be completed by County Dublin Vocational Education
Committee. My Department has appointed Project Managers to oversee the delivery
of these projects and they are currently arranging for the sites to be
surveyed.
The procurement process is well advanced for a Design Team to do the initial
design of these 3 new schools. Thereafter, a Design and Build contractor will
be appointed to complete the designs and build the new schools. My Department
is working closely with County Dublin and County Meath Vocational Education
Committees on the delivery of these projects. Assuming there are no delays
during the design and planning permission phases it is envisaged that the
schools will be completed as close as possible to the 2009/2010 school year.
In the meantime my Department has requested the two VECs to submit their
interim accommodation requirements so that the new schools can become
operational in advance of the completion of the new permanent school buildings.
The Department will ensure that these interim accommodation requests will be
dealt with speedily and positively in order to ensure that appropriate school
provision is in place in these rapidly developing areas.