Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important matter.

It was with alarm that news of the decision by the Sisters of Mercy to close Seamount College, Kinvara was received in south Galway last Thursday evening. The news came as a total shock to the board of management of the school, the principal, teachers, pupils and parents. It was a shock because this school had been making steady progress over the past number of years. Only two years ago it was deemed to be the top non-fee paying school in the country in The Irish Times list. It has a dedicated principal, a committed staff and a conscientious body of students. Not alone is the school recognised for the high level of achievement academically of its students, but the scope of the extra-curricular activity pursued is also worthy of the highest praise.

The school has currently 243 students on the roll and the predictions are that this figure will rise to 300 in three years. The decision to close Seamount College was a shock because no consultation took place with the board of management, the principal, staff, pupils or parents. Education is supposed to involve a high degree of partnership but partnership was totally absent in the making of this decision.

I record my appreciation of the contribution made by the Sisters of Mercy to this country down the years and in particular I acknowledge their enormous contribution to the delivery of a fulsome education to a large percentage of our female population. Our country and people would be poorer without their contribution.

However, I am deeply disappointed and greatly disturbed by the manner in which this decision was taken. There was no consultation, partnership or apparent realisation of the trauma this decision would cause to all involved. That trauma was clearly evident at a public meeting in the college last Friday night at which the principal, Ms Mulkerrins, a teacher, Ms Kavanagh, pupils, Ms Claire O'Regan and Ms Maeve Simmons, members of the board of management, parents and members of the public expressed their absolute disbelief that a decision of such magnitude could be taken in such a manner.

A number of factors relating to this proposed closure are alarming. The first is the decision and the immediacy of it. There will be no intake of first year students in September 2007. The board of management is being discontinued and a single manager is being appointed. The Minister of State would have to agree that the closure of this school in two and a half years' time is unacceptable. It is an extraordinary decision which needs to be suspended immediately to allow for respectful discussions to take place involving all interested parties.

I ask the Minister of State and her senior colleague to use their good offices to have this decision suspended, to engage with the Sisters of Mercy, the principal and local committee with a view to ensuring Seamount College prospers into the future. I ask the Minister of State and her senior Minister to meet the principal and local committee as a matter of urgency to discuss this issue.

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