Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank Senator Michael D'Arcy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the position in respect of the future use of the school building that is currently used to accommodate the newly established post-primary school in Gorey, pending the provision of permanent accommodation for that school.

The Senator may find it helpful if I set out the context within which decisions relating to meeting the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years are made. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 by 2018 - more than 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post-primary level - and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at post-primary level. Given such substantial and welcome population growth, we will have a much-increased enrolment at all levels of education. The latter is expected to continue in the medium term. It is vital, therefore, that there is sufficient school accommodation to cope with these pupil enrolments. In order to meet the needs of our growing population of school-going children, the Department must establish new schools as well as extending or replacing a number of existing schools in areas where demographic growth has been identified. The delivery of these new schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years.

The five-year plan announced in March 2012 outlines the major school projects that are due to proceed to construction over the duration of the plan, including the new 1,000-pupil post-primary school for Gorey. This represents a major advance in how the school building programme is publicised and provides certainty to patrons and school communities concerning the major school building projects that the Department is in a position to progress. Those schools included in the five-year plan now know when their projects will proceed to construction. This will facilitate schools in planning to meet the educational needs of children in their areas.

The new permanent post-primary school building in Gorey is currently under construction. Due, however, to the immediate demand for additional post-primary school places in the town, it was necessary to establish the new school in a temporary location pending the construction of the permanent building. The new school opened in September 2011 and provides accommodation for up to 300 pupils. The design of the building lends itself to conversion to a permanent primary school in the future if required. In addition, the specialist accommodation, which is of a temporary nature, could potentially be relocated to another post-primary school facility if required. The most recent projections produced by the Department of Education and Skills in respect of the Gorey area forecast an increase in demand at primary level in the coming years. A decision on the future use of the building in question, currently occupied by the temporary post-primary school, will be taken when construction of the new school is completed and will be considered in the context of how best to meet future education demand in the area.

I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the position.