Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Coughlan.

I thank Senator Ó Brolcháin for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the position in regard to the process for the establishment of new post-primary schools in general and in particular the request for a new secondary school in Claregalway, County Galway.

The most recent projections used by the Department would see the projected enrolments at post-primary level increase from the current total enrolment, excluding PLCs, of approximately 312,200 pupils to an expected enrolment of between 331,500 and 336,600 pupils by 2017.

It is within this context that the forward planning section is in the process of analysing all areas in the country in order to determine the level of additional provision which will be required at post-primary level up to 2017. Overall post-primary requirements in the Claregalway area will be considered in this context.

In July of this year the Tánaiste announced a significant reform of the process for the recognition of new second-level schools. The new framework to be established will involve the setting out of clear criteria against which new second level school applications will be assessed and will increase the transparency of decision making, with the establishment of a small expert group to advise on second-level patronage applications. The Tánaiste plans to establish this group shortly and to seek their input prior to the finalisation of detailed criteria and procedures.

As the Senator may be aware, primary schools in Claregalway feed into the Galway city post-primary feeder area. In January 2008, the commission on school accommodation published an area development plan for south Galway, 2007-12, which made reference to Claregalway. I refer to a summary of the recommendations for Claregalway:

The Commission recommends that house building and enrolments at Claregalway should be closely monitored by the Department of Education and Skills and that a site should be identified and acquired for a post-primary facility that would accommodate approximately 600 students. This school is likely to be needed by circa 2016.

Officials from the forward planning section of the Department met with members of the Claregalway second-level school parents committee on 15 October last to discuss matters with regard to the request for a new second-level school. Department officials outlined the work currently being carried out by the forward planning section in regard to determining future needs in this area. The progression of all large-scale building projects arising from forward planning section's detailed analysis will be considered in the context of the Department's school building and modernisation programme.

It should also be noted that a new post-primary school for 650 pupils has been approved for Doughiska, on the east side of Galway city. This will ease pressure on post-primary provision in the Galway city catchment area, in particular areas on the east and north east of the city. This is one of eight schools which were approved for inclusion in the third bundle of schools to be procured via public private partnership. It is anticipated that the schools will be ready for occupation in summer 2013. I thank the Senator the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the position in regard to the establishment of new post-primary schools generally and in particular the request for a new post-primary school in Claregalway, County Galway.