Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions bring taken to address the concerns of parents regarding their children's safety travelling to a school (details supplied), including the safety and limitations of the structure they are schooled in; the proposed timeline for providing a new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30853/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the deputy that my department does not provide funding for the upgrade of traffic management or access to school sites outside of any works required as part of a wider school building project.

Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures. The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools and should ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children.

In relation to concerns over the school's existing accommodation, my department has been in contact with the school patron recently and it was confirmed that works are being carried out at present to resolve issues with the flooring in a temporary classroom and plumbing issues have also been resolved. It would be open to the school to apply to the Emergency Works Scheme if there are any further immediate accommodation issues.

As the Deputy will be aware, this school is due to get a new school building as part of a campus project including two other schools. A design team was appointed for this project in January 2024. The design team is currently procuring surveys and preparing the Stage 1 report for submission to the Department. At this stage in the architectural design process, prior to submission of a planning application, it is not possible to give a timeline for the delivery of project.