John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, who regrets very much that it cannot be here. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position in regard to the application for major capital funding for a proposed community school in Ennistymon.

As the Senator will be aware, the three post-primary schools in Ennistymon have agreed to amalgamate on delivery of a new school building. This building project will require a suitable site for it to be progressed. As the Senator will also be aware, a site has been identified for this purpose. The religious congregation which owns the property concerned has offered to transfer the site to the State as part of its offer of a number of properties made in response to the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Ryan report.

In that regard, the Oireachtas enacted the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act in 2012 and section 42 of this Act, which sets out provisions relating to the charitable status of contributions by congregations, was commenced in March 2013. Section 42 empowers the Commissioners for Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland to authorise property transfers and sales related to the making of contributions by congregations to the residential institutions statutory fund or as contributions towards the cost of the response to residential abuse. The recent commencement of section 42 will facilitate the transfer of properties to the Minister for Education and Skills, such as in the case of Ennistymon.

The Government has agreed to accept the property in question and my Department, through the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, is currently working on finalising the transfer of the property. When it has been completed, my Department will be in a position to consider further how this project could be progressed within the context of the available funding. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the request for funding towards a building project for a proposed community school in Ennistymon.