Cork South Central Fine Gael Deputy, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the announcement that prefabs in three schools will be replaced with permanent classroom accommodation.
 
“I am pleased that the Minister for Education and Skills has confirmed that three schools in Cork South Central have received approval to replace prefabs with permanent classrooms. Glasheen Boys National School and in Carrigaline both Scoil Mhuire Lourdes and St. John’s Girls National School have received approval.
 
“Scoil Mhuire Lourdes has been approved for four mainstream classrooms.  St. John’s GNS will now be able to build 4 mainstream classrooms and 2 resource/learning support classrooms.  Glasheen Boys National School will receive funding for 2 mainstream classrooms and one resource/learning support classroom.
 
“The approved funding should ensure that permanent classrooms are built in the three schools by the end of 2012.  The new classrooms will improve the facilities available for pupils and teachers, ending the long-term reliance on prefabs.
 
“For too long the temporary accommodation solution of prefabs had been relied on to provide a long term solution for a shortage of classrooms.  This initiative by the Minister will end that wasteful use of resources delivering classrooms that meet the current needs of pupils, schools and teachers.
 
“The Minister has approved 78 schools across the country to go ahead with the replacement of prefabs with permanent classrooms, allowing them to begin this work to ensure it is completed during 2012.  In total this announcement amounts to an investment of €14 million for prefab replacement in these schools.
 
“In early March the Minister announced a €35 million initiative to reduce the use of prefabs in primary schools.  189 schools were invited to participate in the programme, in addition to the 78 schools which have today received approval another 110 are in on-going discussions with the Department.”
 
ENDS

Posted under Carrigaline, Cork City, Education, South West

Fine Gael TD, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the inclusion of nine schools in Cork South Central in the five year building programme announced by the Government this morning (Monday).
 
“I am delighted that nine schools in Cork South Central have been included in the €1.5 billion five year building programme announced by the Minister for Education and Skills.  In the five year period up to 2016, five new schools will be built; this will include two new primary schools and three new secondary schools.  As well as the new schools, much needed extensions will be delivered for three primary schools and one secondary school.
 
“The location of these projects is in recognition of the growth of the population which has occurred in Cork South Central.  Over the last ten years the population of Cork South Central has increased by over 9%, with much of this increase centred around young families who have set up home in Carrigaline, Douglas, Grange and Rochestown.  This announcement is a commitment to these families and prioritising the education needs of their children.
 
“As part of this investment, a new Educate Together Primary School will be built at Heron’s Wood, Carrigaline, and the location of the other new primary school in the southern suburbs is yet to be finalised.  Two new secondary schools are to be built in Carrigaline and a new post-primary school is also to be built at Ashton Comprehensive School. The building programme also includes extensions at: Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Rochestown; Carrigaline Community School; Douglas Boys National School; and Scoil Nioclais, Frankfield, Grange.  Extensions to St. Angela’s and Scoil Mhuire secondary schools have also been included in the five year school building project.
 
“The schools included in this announcement are in addition to the 60 schools which are under construction at present, most of which will be completed during 2012.  In Cork South Central a new school in Ballygarvan has been completed and work at St. Marys National School in Waterpark, Carrigaline, is due to be completed this year.
 
“A total of €1.5 billion will be invested by the Government between now and the end of 2016 to provide these new and improved school buildings. This will include 106 new schools and 65 extensions at primary level, 43 new schools and 49 extensions at second level, and 8 new special schools and 4 extensions at special schools.
 
“The Government is acting now in order to prepare for the huge increase in pupil numbers expected over the next few years. It’s anticipated that there will be an increase of 45,000 children going to primary school, and 25,000 at second level between now and 2018. In announcing a five year programme, the Government is delivering on its Programme for Government commitment to prioritise school building projects, while delivering approximately 18,000 jobs over the period of the programme nationally.”

Posted under Carrigaline, Douglas, Education, Infastructure

 
Cork South Central Fine Gael Deputy, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed a €35 million initiative by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, TD, to reduce the use of prefabs in primary schools.
 
“I welcome this initiative to reduce the use of prefabs in our schools.  In recent years there has been an over reliance on this expensive, quick fix solution, without any regard for the long term development of our school infrastructure.
 
“In keeping with the Government’s commitment to phase out the inefficient renting of school prefabs the Minister is providing €35 million to build permanent accommodation in 200 schools.  This money is in addition to the five year building programme and it is estimated that it will benefit 6,000 pupils.
 
“In Cork South Central four schools have been offered this grant aid; Glasheen Boys National School, Scoil Mhuire Lourdes, St. John’s Girls National School in Carrigaline and St. Joseph’s National School in The Mardyke.  These schools will have the opportunity to apply for funding to replace their existing prefabs with permanent classrooms.  I would encourage principals and management in these schools to take advantage of this opportunity to improve the facilities available to their pupils.
 
“This announcement has the potential to benefit one third of all schools that rent prefabs and will result in savings of approximately €5 million per annum.  As well as these direct savings this funding will generate revenue for local economies, creating an estimated 700 direct and 140 indirect much-needed jobs.”

Posted under Carrigaline, Education, Infastructure, National Work, South West