Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter and the Minister of State for taking it.

The trustees of Seamount College in Kinvara decided 12 months ago next week to discontinue the provision of education as education providers in Kinvara. That came as a great shock to the parents, school staff and community of Kinvara. We have waited practically 12 months for a solid commitment from the Department of Education and Science and the Minister to provide for the continuation of second level education in Kinvara.

I welcome the decision by the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, on 16 May, prior to the general election, to commit herself and the Government to the provision of second level education in Kinvara. I also welcome the decision of the trustees, the Sisters of Mercy, in response the Minister's decision, to grant a concession that they would allow an intake of first year students in September of this year. Despite the fact that this concession was granted as late as the first week in July, it is important to recognise that the parents of the area have confidence in the school, evidenced by the intake of first year students for this year.

Enrolments in national schools, as of today, in the catchment area of Kinvara are as high as 800. As recently as May of this year, the level of enrolments in the area was assessed, based on CSO figures, by the Department as being 779, but the level of enrolments has been even higher.

The population of the area has increased 7% year-on-year for the past five years and is likely to increase further in the coming years. The need for education provision in the area exists, a fact previously doubted by Department officials.

Will the Minister of State indicate if the Minister, the Department or the OPW has identified a site for the provision of a school in Kinvara? Sites have been on offer. Has the Department investigated the suitability of a site? If so, is it necessary to advertise for a site to be identified? It is important that the Department proceeds quickly and follows the procedures in place to avoid further delay in this instance.

I ask that the Minister clearly states that she is committed to the early start and fast tracking of the provision of a school in the area to ensure that the trustees can respond further by allowing a continuation of the intake of first year students until 2012 when they indicated they would withdraw from the provision of second level education in Kinvara.

The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Kitt, and Deputy Higgins, both having represented that area over the years, understand the need for the continuation of educational provision in this area of south Galway. I urge the Minister of State to reciprocate the positive response of the trustees. I acknowledge that the Minister has restored the board of management under what is termed an independent chairperson. All that has happened to date is positive. The onus is now on the Minister and the Department building unit to move quickly so we can work positively with the community, the staff, the board of management and parent committee to ensure we will continue to have second level education in the area. Everybody agrees the school can no longer remain a girls' only school, but that we will have a co-educational school. We are aware of the need in that part of County Galway as there will be a deficit of approximately 1,400 school places in the area by 2012. The continuation of an educational facility in Kinvara will help to avoid that crisis.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and welcome the opportunity to outline to the House the position regarding the provision of post-primary education in Kinvara, County Galway.

On 16 May 2007, the Minister for Education and Science announced the provision of a new second level school for the Kinvara area. This decision was and remains predicated on the Mercy Order, as trustees of Seamount college, accepting first year students each year until the end of the 2011-12 school year. Subsequent to the announcement by the Minister for Education and Science, the trustees did indeed accept first year students this September. The trustees in announcing their decision also indicated that their decision to close Seamount college by 2012 stands.

The Deputy will appreciate planning for a new school involves a number of processes which can take some time to complete, most notably the acquisition of a suitable site; the design of a building, the grant of planning permission, the seeking of tenders and construction. Many of these factors are outside the direct control of the Department. At present, the commission on school accommodation is continuing its work on the identification of accommodation needs in the south Galway area, including the position relating to provision in Kinvara. Further progression of a new second level school to serve the area will be developed having regard to the positions I have outlined.

I thank Deputy Burke once again for raising the matter. My Government colleagues, Deputies Michael Kitt and Noel Treacy, have also pressed the Minister on this issue, as have other Deputies from the Clare area.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Will the new school be in Kinvara?