Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Neville for raising this matter because it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the position with regard to the proposed building project for Kilfinane national school, County Limerick. Kilfinane national school has a current enrolment of 126 pupils. It has a staffing of a principal, four mainstream assistants, one permanent resource teacher and one permanent learning support teacher, the latter shared with another school. Originally, the board of management applied to the Department of Education and Science for capital funding for an extension project. A feasibility study was commissioned to examine the merits of upgrading and extending the existing building as opposed to the provision of a new school on a greenfield site. The Department took a decision in favour of the greenfield option on the basis of the outcome of this study and for reasons of cost effectiveness.

A site was identified, inspected and found to be generally suitable for the construction of a new school. This has been purchased by the diocese. It is intended to provide long-term accommodation in the new building for a principal, five mainstream assistants and the full range of ancillary accommodation appropriate to a school of this size. The project was included among those announced by the Minister for Education and Science on 29 November 2006 to proceed to tender and construction stage. Tenders have been received and the project is awaiting approval to proceed to construction.

See this speech in context