Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

On behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, I thank the Deputy for raising these matters as it affords me the opportunity to outline to this House the Department of Education and Science position regarding the development of education provision in the schools outlined by the Deputy. I will highlight with the Minister the request for a date.

Gaelscoil Dara, Renmore, is a co-educational primary school with a current staffing of a principal and ten mainstream assistant teachers. Enrolments at the school have increased from 230 in 2002 to 270 currently. Officials in the Department have completed an assessment of the application for a new build school and the long term projected staffing for the school and I can confirm that the proposed accommodation will be for a principal and 16 mainstream teachers and this information has been notified to the school authorities.

The Department is actively engaged in sourcing a suitable site to facilitate the construction of a new school building and to that end is in ongoing discussions with the GMIT. The Deputy can be assured that the permanent accommodation needs of the school is being addressed as expeditiously as possible.

Gaelscoil de hÍde, Oranmore, is a co-educational primary school with a current staffing of a principal and six mainstream assistant teachers. Enrolments at the school have increased from 125 in 2002 to 170 currently. Again, officials in the Department have completed an assessment of the application for a new build school and the long-term projected staffing for Gaelscoil de hÍde, Oranmore, will be for a principal plus 16 mainstream teachers and this also has been notified to the school authorities.

The current position regarding the site acquisition is that the Office of Public Works, which acts generally on behalf of the Department on the acquisition of sites for schools, has been asked to source a suitable site for Gaelscoil de hÍde. On foot of advertisements a number of proposals were received and a technical assessment on the proposed sites was conducted. The OPW is currently in negotiations on the acquisition of the most suitable of these sites and is also in consultation with the local authority on how best to progress matters.

Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara, Carna, is a co-educational post-primary school. Enrolments at the school have decreased from 209 in 2002 to 155 currently. An application for an extension has been received from the school management authority. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria and is being considered in the context of the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, is a co-educational primary school with a current staffing of a principal and eight mainstream assistant teachers and one permanent developing post. Enrolments at the school have increased from 176 in 2002 to 245 currently. Officials in the Department have completed an assessment of the application for an extension to the school and the long-term projected staffing for Scoil Mhuire, Clarinbridge, will be for a principal plus 12 mainstream teachers and this has been notified to the school authorities.

The Department of Education and Science officials are in the process of drawing up a detailed accommodation brief for this school. A site visit is required to inform the final brief for the project and officials will be in contact with the school authority to arrange a site visit. On completion of the brief, the project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla, Galway city, is a co-educational primary school with a current staffing of a principal and 13 mainstream assistant teachers. Enrolments at the school have increased from 289 in 2002 to 365 currently. An application for capital funding was received in May 2006 from Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla. This application will be assessed with reference to factors such as current and projected enrolments at the school, the likely impact of ongoing and proposed housing developments and existing provision in the general area. When this assessment is complete, a decision will be taken on how best to provide for the current and emerging accommodation needs at the school. The proposed project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

I thank the Deputy once again for raising these matters——

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