Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. This is a very important issue in my area, Greenhills-Limekiln, involving the proposed amalgamation of three schools into one. The schools in question are St. Peter's boys' national school, St. Paul's junior girls' national school and St. Paul's senior girls' national school. There is a lack of information on the ground about the proposed amalgamation. Nobody, including the parents, seems to know anything it. I contacted the Department of Education and Skills about the matter in recent weeks and while I appreciated the response, it gave me no further information. A considerable number of concerned parents want me to express their views and see if I can obtain any further information.

The archdiocese has been in touch with the three school principals to inform them about this issue. The Minister informed me in writing that while his Department was aware of the patron's proposals - the proposal has not come from the Department of Education and Skills - it had not received any proposal. I do not know if the Minister can provide further clarification.

Will the Minister of State inform me when he receives the exact proposals? I raised this matter with him a short time ago, perhaps two or three weeks ago. He previously told me that any proposals on the amalgamation must involve consultation with the relevant stakeholders, parents and so on. There has been no consultation as yet.

Will the Minister of State outline the process of consultation, who initiates it, and whether the Department of Education and Skills has a role, if it is not initiated on the ground, to ensure that all the parties are consulted? Many parents have expressed concerned about the process of consultation. I have not encountered much negativity to the proposal as a whole. Not everyone would be against it, as many parents would like the choice of a co-educational school. They express the desire for parental choice and involvement, rather than a dictatorial announcement. The lack of consultation and the haste of the decision really frustrated people. Many people, including myself, had asked that the amalgamation be postponed because of the lack of information.

An issue that was brought to my attention was with regard to the autistic spectrum disorder special class in St. Peter's boys' national school. Parents wondered if this special class would be retained with the same facilities in the proposed new school. The HSE Beechpark service gives a very good service in providing the school with clinical support in the area of psychology, behaviour management and speech and language. The girls' schools do not have a similar special class. Parents want to ensure that all of the existing services will be retained and are anxious to learn what additional facilities will come on stream when the boys' and girls' schools are amalgamated. Will the Minister of State please comment on this point when responding to the questions?

What is the timeframe for the commencement and the procedure for the amalgamation? Is there a process for consultation with all the parents? Will the current facilities and building be used to accommodate the amalgamation? Will individual classes be amalgamated? The boys' national school is amalgamating with the girls' junior and senior national schools. Some parents welcome co-education but others may not. Will parents have a choice of single-sex education? Will a costing of the proposal be available from the Department of Education and Skills and will there be a comparison with the current cost of funding three schools? When will a project team be appointed to oversee the amalgamation? What will happen to the redundant school building when the amalgamated school is in operation? Will the redundant school building be available for educational purposes in the area? At present one of the schools has a parents' room, and the parents really want to ensure that such a facility will be available in the amalgamated school.

I have asked a great many questions, which I am prepared to put in writing if the Minister does not have all the answers for me this evening.