Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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This is an important matter. Parents in Ballyfermot were shocked last week when they learned by way of letter from the De La Salle national school that it proposes to amalgamate with three other national schools in the area, namely, St. Raphael's national school, St. Michael's national school and St. Gabriel's national school. The original De La Salle school was built in 1952, which is around the time the new estate of Ballyfermot was built. There were three schools under the De La Salle brothers at that time, including Scoil Íosagáin, Scoil Sheosaimh and Scoil Mhuire, which over time amalgamated into one school. Two of the schools amalgamated in 1981 and the third school was amalgamated only two years ago, which then became De La Salle national school. I accept pupil numbers at the school have fallen. However, there are currently 292 pupils in the De La Salle school, almost 200 in St. Gabriel's, more than 200 in St. Raphael's and almost 300 in St. Michael's, which when combined means the new structure will have more than 1,000 pupils, which is a substantial amount of young people.

Parents are concerned at the possible loss of the school buildings owned by the De La Salle brothers and school properties, including playing fields and so on, which have served the young children of Ballyfermot since 1952. The reason given by the Diocesan authorities is that it is disinvesting from the school, which is to be welcomed. I am not opposed to that. The concern is in relation to the suddenness of the decision.

Were the Department and the Minister aware of the change that was taking place in Ballyfermot? As far as I know, Department officials had a meeting with the church authorities in February, when the disinvestment was agreed. Were concerns raised at the time about the school buildings and structures and whether this eventuality would affect the teaching in what would be left in those schools? We need to ensure there is no overcrowding at the three schools run by the Dominican order, that the pupil-teacher ratios in those schools are not affected, and that there are no job losses. The key to all of this is that the land owned by the De La Salle brothers is not sold to an outsider and at the very least, that the buildings and the land be transferred to the Dominican order. I would like to see it transferred to the State.

I urge the Minister of State to respond positively to this change to ensure people in Ballyfermot can rely on the best possible educational outcome, which means the best possible educational campus. That is available in the existing campuses and with the existing structure.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position in respect of the Ballyfermot national schools to which the Deputy referred. The four schools concerned are St. Raphael's national school, Dominican convent, a senior girls infant mixed school; St. Gabriel's national school, Dominican campus, a senior girls infant mixed school; De La Salle national school, a senior boys school, which is an amalgamation of Scoil Íosagáin-Mhuire and Scoil Mhuire-Seosamh; and St. Michael's national school, Dominican convent, a senior girls infant mixed school.

The decision-making authority for any amalgamation or re-organisation of schools in an area belongs to the patron of the schools, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. My Department's role is to facilitate any such proposal or discussions between the relevant parties. The initiative for any amalgamation or re-organisation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, boards of management and patrons. Any such proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level. The financial consequences associated with amalgamations would also have to take into account the continuing requirements to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and the level of budgetary provision available at the time.

My Department carried out parental surveys on primary schools patronage earlier this year, which included a survey of the areas of Palmerstown, Ballyfermot, Chapelizod and Cherry Orchard. Based on the results of the survey, where the parental demand for an alternative patron was confirmed, my Department asked the Catholic patrons to consider options for reconfiguring their schools to allow the transfer of a school to a new patron. The surveys also indicated a level of preference by parents for a re­organisation of schools to facilitate more co-educational provision. My Department understands that the patron is in ongoing discussions with the school principals and chairpersons of the boards of management of schools in the Ballyfermot area as part of its assessment as to future school accommodation needs in that regard.

I advise the Deputy that the Minister would be concerned that any proposed changes are well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of parents, teachers and local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system. I can confirm that my Department has not received any proposals from the patron or trustees on the future accommodation arrangements for the four schools referred to.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The proposal to amalgamate came as a shock to the parents, as there was no preparation done by the patron in that respect. A survey was carried out but I do not think that anybody expected, as a result of a demand for co-education, that there would be an amalgamation and the closure of one of the schools. I am in favour of co-education in the school complex, as are the parents, but I do not believe this is the best outcome.

I take on board the commitment made by the Minister of State that the Minister has the final approval, but what was presented to parents was a fait accompli. These schools suffered the consequences of child sex abuse in the past, and one of the worst offenders, Fr. Tony Walsh, who was cited in chapter 19 of the Murphy report, was one of those who went to these schools to pick out victims at random. They have suffered the consequences and we do not want a situation where the educational atmosphere is affected in any way by an amalgamation which adds to overcrowding and which increases the pupil-teacher ratio, but which also limits the scope for development in the future. I urge the Minister of State to ensure there is no sale of land involved, or at the very least, that the order is encouraged to transfer the lands and buildings into the possession of the State which can then work with the remaining three schools under the Dominican order, if they continue to be the patrons of those schools, to run successful schools, as is currently the case in Ballyfermot. I am hopeful the Minister of State and the Minister can ensure parents' fears are put at ease over the next few weeks and months as the De La Salle order withdraws from the school.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Schools in this country are independent, autonomous entities managed by a board of management, and each board of management has a significant representation from the parent body of the school, the local community and the staff of the school as well. No decision on the future of a school can be taken without significant consultation with all those groups. Neither can any decision can be taken by this Department or any other entity to force schools into amalgamating if they do not wish to do so.

The Deputy's fears about any potential increase of the pupil-teacher ratio are not well founded on the basis that, irrespective of the amalgamation process and whatever new proposals that might emanate from such a process would be, the national pupil-teacher ratio would still apply and there would be no disadvantage to any children in those schools as a result. My Department has not received any information or formal proposal from any of the patrons of the aforementioned schools as to what the amalgamation process might look like, and until such time as they do, there is no point in commenting further. When that proposal is made known to us, we will be more than happy to discuss it with the Deputy.