Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to the Deputy for the absence of the Minister for Education and Skills who, unfortunately, is unavailable this afternoon. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, to clarify the current position on the acquisition of suitable sites to facilitate major capital projects for Presentation College, Gairmscoil Mhuire and Gaelscoil Riada, Athenry.

The Deputy will be aware that the country has experienced an unprecedented population increase in recent years, which has posed a significant challenge for the provision of school places. Funding under the Department's five-year construction plan is focused on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that the school system is in a position to accommodate increasing pupil numbers. That involves prioritising school building projects in areas where demographic demand has been identified.

Athenry has been identified as an area of demographic growth. In that regard, major projects to provide new school buildings for both Gairmscoil Mhuire and the Presentation College that will cater for 1,000 pupils each have been included in the current five-year construction plan. In addition, a new 12-classroom school building will be provided for Gaelscoil Riada and a project for this school has also been included in the current five-year construction plan. New sites are required to accommodate these new school buildings.

The Deputy will be aware that the Minister signed a memorandum of understanding between her Department and the County and City Managers Association in 2012. The purpose of memorandums of understanding is to ensure a greater level of co-operation between the Department and the relevant local authority when sites for schools are being identified and acquired. In the case of the schools referred to by the Deputy, potential site options were identified by the Department working closely with Galway County Council. They were then jointly assessed from a technical perspective by officials from the local authority and from the Department. Subsequent to valuations being obtained, officials from Galway County Council engaged in negotiations with the landowner on behalf of the Department. In the course of the negotiations, discussions in regard to technical aspects of the development of the site arose and those issues required detailed examination at the time. Further to discussions on the matters, agreement has been reached.

I can confirm, therefore, that suitable sites have been identified, the acquisition of sites for the schools has been agreed, and the acquisition process is under way. Once the conveyancing process has been satisfactorily completed, the projects will be advanced into architectural planning. I assure the Deputy that the acquisition of new sites for the schools is a priority for the Department.

I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, to outline to the Dáil the current position regarding the acquisition of sites for Presentation College, Gairmscoil Mhuire and Gaelscoil Riada, Athenry.

See this speech in context