Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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This matter concerns an eight-year battle we have had in Tuam to have St. Patrick's College and St. Jarlath's College amalgamated. I raised this matter on 28 October 2004 and I have the impression that I am speaking to the wind but I will continue to bring up the matter until I get an answer. I do not intend to go back through the history of the proposed amalgamation of the colleges. Suffice to say that it all started eight years ago and the plan was considered to be in the best interests of the school-going fraternity in both colleges. It was the best step to take from an educational viewpoint but why has it taken eight years to get to this stage? I hope the Minister of State will have some facts for me this evening.

On the last occasion, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform dealt with my query on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science. Having raised the matter last October, I met the new Minister for Education and Science, together with other representatives from east Galway. We were led to believe then that we would soon be told what would happen.

In common with every other project, I was informed at the time that the 2005 allocation — this wonderful, multi-annual programme the Government has to cover all the evils in school buildings — would be announced early in the new year. It was announced but this amalgamation was not mentioned. Some Deputies in east Galway seem to believe it is only a matter of days or weeks until this amalgamation receives the go-ahead. I sincerely hope they are right but as an opposition spokesman with a particular interest in this amalgamation, I am far from satisfied with the speed at which this matter is being handled.

Can the Minister of State explain the current status of the amalgamation? Is it true that departmental personnel are currently examining the schools' structures? Is that happening as we speak? Will the approval to proceed to the planning and subsequent stages be announced next week, next month or next year? There appears to be a body of opinion, shared by some of my colleagues in east Galway, that the amalgamation will be announced in a few days. I cannot understand why it was not announced in the 2005 allocations, which were unveiled last month. At a meeting before Christmas, my colleagues and I informed the new Minister of the current situation. God knows, after eight years all the information on the detailed work that should have been done must be available.

There is a problem with the roof of St. Patrick's College. It is a technical matter but a sum of money was made available for roofing repairs. However, I understand it has now become apparent to both the Department and the school authorities that the money should be spent in a different manner to that first approved by the Minister. It would make a huge difference to the school if it could be expended in a slightly different way. That is enough for me to put on the record because I assume the departmental officials know exactly what I am talking about. That is important.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy should conclude.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State should provide me and the teaching staff and students of both colleges with some indication as to when permission will be given to allow the amalgamation to proceed to the next stage.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science and I am not sure if the Deputy will get the answers he needs.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State can be sure I will not.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, agreement was reached some time ago on the rationalisation of post-primary education provision in Tuam. Agreement has been reached with the relevant trustees to form a single boys and a single girls school, each to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 700 pupils. The vocational school is not part of either amalgamation process.

The school planning section of the Department of Education and Science has agreed with the management authorities of both schools involved in the amalgamation that the optimum plan to address the accommodation needs of the single school, which will result from the amalgamation, is to extend facilities at St. Jarlath's College and to refurbish the existing facilities. The objective is to ensure facilities at the new school will serve the needs of the school community well into the future.

The project at Tuam has been assessed and assigned a band 1.4 rating in accordance with the revised prioritisation criteria published earlier this year following consultation with the education partners. This band rating will positively influence the timescale for delivery of this project. Officials in the Department are in regular contact with the school authorities to progress the detailed preliminary work necessary to facilitate this large-scale building project.

The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Education and Science recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme, which provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide. This announcement is the first in a series that the Minister plans to make in the coming period on the schools building and modernisation programme, which will include details of schools identified as suitable for construction under public private partnerships; an expansion of the number of schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on the basis of devolved funding; details of schools with projects approved under the 2005 summer works scheme; schools whose projects will further progress through the design process; and schools that will be authorised to commence architectural planning.

The Deputy would like St. Jarlath's to fall into the latter two categories. I assure him that the needs of St. Patrick's and St. Jarlath's are being considered in this context and I will convey his comments to the Minister. It is difficult to read between the lines on these projects but a number of people may look on this proposal too optimistically. While further phases must be undertaken, the last phase to be announced will be the most significant. Progress will be possible during the year. I note the Deputy's frustrations and I will speak to the Minister.