Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress with the proposed amalgamation of a school (details supplied) and the development of another school in Tuam, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5197/22]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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What progress has been made on the plans to develop the new single campus for a newly amalgamated national school in Tuam, County Galway? What progress has been made on the Educate Together national school, which is seeking a permanent home? It is in its seventh year in existence in the town and is doing very well.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a project for the schools to which he refers has recently been approved. The single project will provide for the construction of a 41-classroom primary school for Trinity National School as well as the development of an eight-classroom primary school for Tuam Educate Together National School on the same site. Special education needs classes are also being provided for both schools.

I can also confirm that the project for Trinity National School will facilitate the amalgamation to which he refers. Trinity National School is an amalgamation of three schools; namely, Presentation Primary School, Scoil Mhuire Mercy Primary School and St. Patrick’s Primary School.

The amalgamation took place from 1 September 2019 and the three schools' existing buildings are continuing to be used until the new amalgamated school is provided. The Department will be devolving the delivery of this project to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, ETB. The next step in the progression of this project through the architectural planning process is for Galway and Roscommon ETB to enter into a service level agreement with the Department. The execution of the service level agreement is currently under way. Once this is in place, Galway and Roscommon ETB will proceed with the appointment of a design team to progress the project through design, planning and construction in due course.

I thank Galway and Roscommon ETB for taking on the management and delivery of this campus project. This project will involve a very significant investment in the provision of new and very modern school facilities in Tuam and is very welcome.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for that very positive news for Tuam. It is great news that the Educate Together school will receive a new facility on the same campus as Trinity National School and both schools will be delivered as one project.

It is important for the town of Tuam. It is also important for the town's development that we have this single campus because then we can look after some of the transportation needs, including the inner relief road required in the town. This is now being devolved. Will the Minister estimate how many years it will be before we see the ribbon being cut on this facility which is, as she says, badly needed for the town?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I agree with him this is a very significant and positive development and an ambitious project for the town and rightly so. The single project will provide, as I have said, for the construction of a 41-classroom primary school for Trinity national school as well as the development of an eight-classroom primary school for Tuam Educate Together national school together on the same site. The timeline for the completion of the campus projects progressed together as a single project should not be expected to be any different from an equivalent single major building project that is not on a campus. However, at least until such time as the statutory consent process has been completed it is not possible at this stage to provide a timeline for the completion of the project, but it is my expectation that the service level agreement will be progressed as a matter of priority.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I also acknowledge the Archdiocese of Tuam for its work in facilitating this project to take place. It is important also to acknowledge the work of the Minister's predecessor, Deputy McHugh, who set the train in motion in getting what the Minister herself rightly described as a fantastic new education facility for Tuam. It is very important as well that we move to the design stage as quickly as possible because Galway County Council has plans to do some roads and modify some works in terms of traffic management within the town. As the town is now growing substantially it is important we do it in a co-ordinated way so we are not spending money on roads that become dysfunctional when the schools are built. I also believe it will add to our cohort of secondary schools and be feeders to them, including Presentation College Currylea, Scoil Bhríde Mercy Secondary School, St. Jarlath's College and of course the Archbishop McHale College. All of them are progressing well and I compliment the Department on all the support it has given to educational facilities in Tuam.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge the commendation of the patrons. There has been a very strong collaborative and co-operative approach taken here and that is very important. In all sectors of society and most notably in the education sector, we can achieve great things when we enter into the spirit of collaboration and co-operation. This is is an excellent example of patrons coming together, of there being a very clear and defined ambition for education in Tuam and because of the collective engagement and the generosity of everyone involved in the process, ensuring that we can develop what will really be an ambitious, positive and significant development in education for Tuam. It is a development that looks to the future with ambition for education in the area. I support the Deputy's very positive comments.