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

I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the position on the proposed building project at Scoil Naomh Éanna, Bullaun, Loughrea, County Galway.

The Senator will be aware of the significant demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years and the need to ensure there is sufficient school accommodation to cope with these pupil enrolments. The delivery of new schools, together with extension projects to meet future pupil enrolment demand, will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. While Bullaun has not been identified as an area of significant demographic growth, the Department, however, also recognises that schools not included in the five-year construction programme may require additional accommodation where an immediate enrolment need in an area is arising. Over the past five years, enrolment at Scoil Naomh Éanna has risen from 140 pupils to 187, a 30% increase which is significant.

In the case of Scoil Naomh Éanna, the Department has recognised the need for additional school accommodation to address its immediate needs. In April 2012, the school was approved funding for the purchase of an additional temporary mainstream classroom. In December 2012, the Department approved further funding for an extension of the existing staff room and resource teaching room. These projects have been completed and all moneys have been paid to the school.

However, Scoil Naomh Éanna has experienced issues with wastewater treatment on its existing school site. In that regard, the school was authorised to engage a suitably qualified consultant engineer to address the problem, if possible, by installing an appropriate sequencing batch reactor. In December last, I facilitated and attended an on-site meeting between the Department, the school and its consultant on the matter. At that meeting, it became apparent that the existing site is too restricted to provide an appropriate wastewater treatment system and the additional permanent accommodation also under consideration. In that regard, it was also accepted that the option of extending the school site was not available.

To address the site limitations, the school advised in the course of the December 2013 meeting that its patron is willing to offer a greenfield site for a new school development. The Department acknowledged this offer and requested that appropriate details such as site maps be supplied. The principal has told me this information has been supplied. In addition, the Department sought that formal confirmation be supplied by the patron that the site concerned would be offered for development. On the basis of the information received by the Department on 16 January, the Department intends to have the site concerned technically evaluated shortly to determine its suitability for school development. In the event that no issues arise from this assessment, the new school building project can then be progressed into the architectural planning process. I do not expect any issues to arise as the proposed site is suitable, right in the heart of the village and adjacent to a newly developed car park.

I thank the Senator for allowing me the opportunity to outline the position on Scoil Naomh Éanna.