Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

In light of increases in population in the south Galway area and the decision of the Sisters of Mercy to close Seamount college, Kinvara, on a phased basis, I determined that a new post-primary school would be required in the south Galway area. I asked the commission on school accommodation to conduct a survey of school accommodation in the area to determine the location of the proposed post-primary school and to identify other locations where additional school places may be required over the next five to ten years. Areas included in the survey are Oranmore-Clarinbridge, Claregalway, Athenry, Gort-Ardrahan and Kinvara. The commission placed an advertisement in the local and national media on 23 April inviting interested parties to submit their views in writing to the commission by 15 May. Some 25 written submissions were received from a range of individuals and organisations such as patrons, boards of management, teachers, parent groups, local communities and the Association of Secondary Teachers, ASTI. The commission noted that such a broad response was indicative of the strong support by the community for educational provision in the area and showed that solid links have been formed between the schools and their respective local communities.

The commission, consisting of a dedicated technical group and the secretariat, undertook a public consultation process. It met representatives of the ASTI staff from Seamount college in June 2007. On 16, 17 and 18 October it met all the patrons involved, representatives of boards of management, principal teachers, staff members and representatives of the Rescue Seamount Committee and paid visits to each of the post-primary schools in the area. The commission is currently engaged in an analysis of all key issues such as baptisms, demography and population, migration, diversity, primary and post-primary enrolment trends, regional and local authority plans for industry and housing, and house building. This analysis, in conjunction with information from those consulted, will facilitate the commission in reaching its conclusions and recommendations. I expect the commission's report will be submitted to me by the end of November.

When a new school has been approved a number of procedures and processes must be undertaken and these can take some time to complete. The main stages are identification and acquisition of a suitable site, the design of the building, the application for and granting of planning permission, invitation to seek tenders and construction.

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