Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that Fermoy was one of the areas surveyed in 2012/13 under the patronage divesting process where there was sufficient parental demand supporting changes in school patronage (the areas surveyed were areas where demographics were not growing and therefore it was unlikely that a new multi-denominational school would be established for demographic reasons).

The policy on patronage divesting is to use existing educational infrastructure to facilitate provision of diversity in areas where there is no demographic imperative to establish new schools. The reason for this is that, of necessity, the focus of the schools capital programme is on the provision of additional school places at both primary and post-primary levels to ensure that every pupil can access a school place.

As part of the process of identifying a suitable accommodation solution which would facilitate the establishment of the school, the Department liaised with Cork Education and Training Board. In order to facilitate the establishment of the new school, the ETB agreed to the co-location of the Educate Together school at the former Technical School in Fermoy, together with some of the ETB’s Further Education and Training services.

Prior to the establishment of the new school in 2018 under the patronage divesting process, the Department and Educate Together as school patron agreed that given the accommodation available at the property and the need for the ETB to accommodate some Further Education and Training services from the property, the school would be established as a four-classroom school and that the school will maintain this configuration in the accommodation in the former Technical School unless an existing school building is freed up for use in the area. As part of this engagement, the Department outlined to the school patron the importance of enrolments being managed within the available accommodation in a sustainable way and that this would be communicated to the school Board of Management so that parents could be fully informed and in order to manage expectations.

The school has been advised to direct any queries that it has regarding the divesting agreement to its patron.

The Department continues to engage with the school’s patron in respect of queries raised regarding the school’s accommodation.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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326. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on an emergency works application (details supplied). [21648/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers submitted a request for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) regarding Life Safety Systems in December 2023. My Department has been engaged in ongoing consultation with the school since this application was received. I am pleased to inform the deputy that all the works under the application have been approved. The school can now submit the tender report for approval at its earliest possible convenience.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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327. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the situation with respect to an emergency works scheme application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21649/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) to address the flooring on the first floor of the school building. This application is currently being examined by the Technical area within the EWS team. My Department is aware of the urgent nature of the works and the school will be kept informed throughout the process.