Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter with the Minister of State agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I raised this matter on the Adjournment on 31 January. As I said then, St. Angela's school in Cork city has had meetings, engaged in a consultative process and promises have been made in respect of it. The school is concerned that it will not have a new school building and that the development plan has not been advanced or brought to a conclusion.

The school wishes to bring to a conclusion the purchase of the adjoining convent site, which is a key element of the building plan. The trustees have submitted all the legal documents to the Department and I am informed the sales process is now in the hands of the Chief State Solicitor's office. The trustees, their solicitors and the school are waiting for the sale to be concluded. When will the Department of Education and Science be in a position to conclude the sale of the convent site? From what I gather, the delay in the process is very much on the side of the Department and not on the side of the school.

There are 524 pupils in St. Angela's. Enrolments have been good, given that the school is in the inner city which has a wide catchment area. I was told by the former Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, in January that the extension and refurbishment project was at an early stage of architectural planning. What band rating has been assigned to the project?

The Ursuline order is prepared to sell the convent building and grounds to the Department to allow for a modern school to be built. In January this was being considered by the Department. Does such consideration and consultation take almost ten months? I hope we will get answers to these questions. There is an acceptance now that the extension and refurbishment of the school needs the decanting of the existing building. I hope we will get a positive reply from the Minister of State.