Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The response indicates that suitable sites have been identified for each of the three schools. That is what the reply states, namely, that the acquisition of the sites has been agreed and the acquisition process is under way. I would be very grateful if the information could be conveyed directly to each of the principals and boards of management of each of the three schools. Perhaps the Department could undertake an examination of its policy of non-communications with boards of management because that has been my experience of the way the Department interacts with school authorities. The Department seems intent on keeping people in the dark to a certain extent as to how things are developing, which serves to build distrust and a lack of confidence in the Department. The building unit works exceptionally well even though it has a very difficult job to do. In this instance it is working hand in glove with officials in Galway County Council. I thank them and congratulate them on the work they have done to date. However, there is a missing element, namely, ongoing communication with school authorities, teachers and parents to inform them of how the process is developing in each instance. It does not require daily or weekly updates but boards of management and principals deserve to be updated on a reasonably regular basis on how matters are progressing. I would be very grateful if the information that has been conveyed to me this evening would equally be conveyed to the respective principals and boards of management of each school.

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