Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Burke for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding Killimor national school, Ballinasloe, County Galway. In 2005, the Department of Education and Science announced details of 89 primary schools and 33 post-primary schools that were allowed to progress to tender and construction. Killimor national school was among the primary schools listed in that announcement.

Initially, the school management undertook to identify a suitable site for the school and to carry out negotiations for its acquisition subject to its subsequent purchase by the Department. On that basis the school applied for planning permission for a new six classroom school and it was the intention of the Department to proceed to tender and construction as soon as site conveyancing was complete. Subsequently, however, the acquisition of the site ran into difficulty.

The acquisition of the site for the school will now be concluded by the Office of Public Works, which generally acts on behalf of the Department on site acquisitions for schools. The site comprises of one larger plot, the acquisition of which is currently at contract-conveyancing stage, and a smaller plot which is required for access and in the ownership of the local authority. The local authority has confirmed to the school management its willingness, subject to criteria, to transfer the requisite portion of lands to facilitate the school building and the OPW will shortly be contacting the local authority with a view to finalising arrangements.

In February 2005, representatives of the school attended a meeting in Tullamore organised by the building unit in the Department which outlined the steps a school should take to advance a building project through tender and construction phases. In November 2004, the school obtained planning permission for a new six classroom school and it is the Department's intention that this is the school that will be built once site conveyancing is completed.

In February 2007, a letter issued from the building unit to the board of management requesting a revised cost plan for the project plus an updated mechanical and electrical submission. Once this revised documentation is received and approved by the Department and the site acquisition finalised, the school will be given devolved authority to prepare tender documentation and to invite tenders prior to the commencement of construction.

I assure the Senator that the Department is fully committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for Killimor national school at the earliest possible date. I again thank the Senator for raising this matter.