Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this issue. I ask the Department of Education and Science, the Minister and the Government to outline to the House the progress that has been made as regards the amalgamation of the two schools in Kanturk, St. Colman's boys' school and the Convent of Mercy girls' school, as this initiative has been ongoing for some time.

Kanturk, like many provincial towns, has grown considerably and there is a major issue as regards space particularly in the boys' national school which is in dire need of extra facilities and space. In 2005, the current Minister and I took this issue by the scruff of the neck. The Minister visited the schools in November 2005 and looked at the situation at first hand. Then a commitment was given and following intervention to the patron of the schools, Bishop John Magee, he decided the amalgamation would go ahead and that the dioceses and the parish would provide the site. This matter has been ongoing since the spring of 2006 and to date we have not had any information as regards progress.

It raised its head during the recent general election when many issues and counter-issues were aired and a number of threatening e-mails were sent in relation to the proposed project. I understand that the Department has met with the boards of management since. However, I am asking the Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Devins, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, to outline to the House what steps the Department has taken as regards ensuring that the amalgamation will take place as quickly as possible.

We were assured that it was a band 1 project and as such should move through the Department of Education and Science speedily. As I have outlined to the House, there is a great need for this in Kanturk. The delays are regrettable and the initiative should be prioritised within the Department. Very often there are issues as regards amalgamation in schools. In this case, however, both schools welcome the amalgamation and look forward to it being completed. I ask the Minister and the Government, through the Minister of State, Deputy Devins, to outline the current position to the House in relation to the amalgamation and to ensure that whatever delays exist are ironed out so that the project is moved to the design and construction stage as soon as humanly possible. At this stage, it is one of the most worthy and necessary school amalgamations in the country.

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin.

I wish to thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also the position regarding the proposed amalgamation of national schools in Kanturk.

Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of under-investment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population growth. Nonetheless, since taking office, the Government has shown a focused determination to improve the condition of our school buildings and to ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place to enable the implementation of a broad and balanced curriculum.

As evidence of this commitment, over €540 million will be spent on school building and modernisation projects in the coming year on primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. Since 1997, a total of €3 billion has been invested in school buildings and this has delivered over 7,800 school building projects. The further investment of over €540 million will build on these achievements and will focus in particular on the provision of school accommodation in areas where the population is growing at a rapid rate. As further evidence of our commitment, national development plan funding of €4.5 billion will be invested in schools over the coming years.

I am sure the Deputy will agree that this record level of investment is a positive testament to the high priority the Government attaches to ensuring that school accommodation is of the highest standard possible. On top of this, to reduce red tape and allow projects to move faster, responsibility for smaller projects has been devolved to school level. Standard designs have also been developed for eight and 16 classroom schools to facilitate speedier delivery of projects and save on design fees. The design and build method is also used to expedite delivery where the use of standard designs is not possible. Taken together with the unprecedented level of funding available, these initiatives ensure that building projects are delivered in the fastest timeframe possible.

Turning to the specific issue of the proposed amalgamation of the national schools in Kanturk, the position is that the patron of the school has been engaged in identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the proposed construction of a new school building to facilitate the amalgamation of the existing two national schools in Kanturk, namely, St. Colman's boys' national school and the convent girls' national school and has sought the Department's approval for the proposed site.

Officials from the school planning section of the Department met earlier this year with a delegation from the two national schools in Kanturk and a representative of the school patron to discuss issues surrounding the acquisition of the proposed greenfield site. Following this meeting with the Department, officials carried out a technical assessment of the proposed greenfield site and the technical report identified several issues with regard to the proposed site which need to be addressed by the management authority of the school. These issues were outlined in a letter to the patron in August this year and the Department is awaiting a reply to same.

Officials in the Department are carrying out an assessment of the long-term projected staffing for the amalgamated school in Kanturk which will be notified to the school authorities as soon as it is completed. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and allowing me to outline the progress being made under the school building and modernisation programme and the specific position of the proposed amalgamation of the national schools in Kanturk.