Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Castlebar Educate Together National School was established as a four-class school under the terms of a divestment process in September 2016. I am very pleased to confirm that a capital project to provide a new permanent eight-classroom school building for the school is included in the Department of Education's school building programme pipeline. This capital project is at site acquisition stage. The site acquisition process is being progressed in line with standard acquisition protocols. The Department has engaged the services of a site acquisition manager consultancy team to identify and assess potential site options.

Following this extensive site identification and assessment exercise, a number of potential site options have been shortlisted for further consideration. This includes more detailed technical and economic appraisals of these potential site options. The Department is working towards securing the most suitable site for the school while also ensuring value for money for the Exchequer is achieved.

While the Department is putting a solution in place for the long-term needs of the school, additional accommodation has been provided for the school over recent years. The school, in line with terms agreed as part of the original divestment process, has been instructed to take cognisance of its existing accommodation capacity when managing its enrolment of 134 pupils.

The demand for school places in the Castlebar school planning area is projected to peak this year. Census data shows that the population of Castlebar town increased by 8% from 2016 to 2022. The number of primary school-aged children increased by 5.5%. However, the number of preschool children, aged zero to four, decreased by 12%. This downward trend in demographics is expected to impact school enrolments over the coming years.

The school also received approval to negotiate further with the owners of the premises on Newport Road for additional space, to include one special education tuition room, a staff room and a toilet. It was necessary to obtain planning permission for this work, and this has since been obtained. The Department has approved reconfiguration of this additional space for use by the school. This project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery under the Department's additional accommodation scheme.

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