Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Higgins for raising this matter on the Adjournment, a matter close to my heart since it has to do with a Gaelscoil. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, who is unavoidably absent.

This debate affords us an opportunity to outline to the Seanad the process being utilised to ensure there will be adequate accommodation in schools at primary and post-primary level in all parts of the country. The forward planning section of the Department of Education and Skills has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. School accommodation requirements throughout the county have been considered as part of this detailed study and the Department is considering options to meet the deficit of accommodation identified in areas of particular need as a top priority.

In regard to the specific query referred to by the Senator regarding Gaelscoil Riabhach, Loughrea, County Galway, I can confirm that the school authority has submitted an application for large-scale capital funding for the provision of a new school building. This is to replace the current rented temporary accommodation occupied by the school in Loughrea. The school has been in temporary accommodation since its establishment. However, I am pleased to confirm that the school has been awarded permanent recognition by the Department of Education and Skills since the commencement of the current school year and that a project for the provision of permanent accommodation is being progressed. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects and it has been determined that a new school building on a new site is required to meet the school's accommodation requirements. This new building will contain eight mainstream classrooms, a general purpose room and a suite of other ancillary accommodation appropriate to a school of this size.

The progression of the proposed building project is subject to the acquisition of a suitable site and in this regard I can confirm that the Department has been working very closely with Galway County Council for some time now to identify and acquire a site for a new school building for Gaelscoil Riabhach. I am pleased to be in a position to confirm to the Senator that a suitable site has been identified and that negotiations are continuing with the relevant landowner with a view to concluding a deal. However, as the Senator will understand, given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally and negotiations regarding particular sites, I am not in a position to comment further on the current state of these negotiations.

The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design through to construction phase will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme and the available financial resources. However, until the negotiations with the landowner in question have reached a successful conclusion, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project through the design stages and on to tender and construction. Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project for Gaelscoil Riabhach, is available on the Department's website at education.ie.
I thank the Senator again for giving me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position regarding Gaelscoil Riabhach, Loughrea, County Galway.