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 current position in relation to the proposed merger of St. Peter's boys' national school and St. Paul's girls junior and senior primary schools.

I wish to advise the Senator that the initiative for any amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, board of management and patron or patrons of each school. Any such proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders. Following the consultation process, a decision taken at local level will follow. Let me stress that the decision will be taken at local level. In that regard, any proposed changes must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers and local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.

Every amalgamation case needs to be considered by all involved on its individual merits. In many cases, there will be a strong case for progressing with an amalgamation. For example, in the case of very small schools with decreasing numbers, parents and the local school community may themselves see benefits in amalgamation opportunities. In areas of mature population where enrolment numbers are decreasing over time and school buildings are not being utilised to full capacity, or where there is separate single-sex provision and a local parental preference for co-educational arrangements, there can also be strong merit in such proposals. Equally, it has to be recognised that there can be significant sensitivities involved. These are best addressed through a process of local-level dialogue and consultation aimed at ensuring that any proposal meets the interests of the communities concerned.

The decision-making authority for the amalgamation of any school is the patron of the school concerned, and the decision is then subject to the final approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. In that regard, I wish to advise the Senator that while my Department is aware of the patron's proposals to merge the three schools concerned, to date the Department has received no proposal from the patron or trustees in the matter. On receipt of any such proposal, the Department will consider the matter, taking into account factors including the current provision and the future demand for primary school places in the Greenhills-Limekiln area, the future use of any buildings and any capital funding implications.

It is not necessarily the case with all amalgamation proposals that capital investment would be needed to support amalgamation. However, each case is assessed on an individual basis to determine the extent and type of accommodation required, taking into account the condition of buildings, site capacity, etc.

My Department would also generally advise the patron and any relevant stakeholders to check out their position with the relevant sections of my Department in relation to the implications of any amalgamation for school funding, school staffing and school transport so that an informed decision can be made about any amalgamation proposal.

Senator Keane raised the issue of the significant additional special needs services provided by HSE. One would assume that in any amalgamation the special needs provision would be continued on the basis that the needs arise from within the community and would consequently have to be accommodated in the process of amalgamation.

I wish to thank the Senator again for giving me the opportunity to clarify the current position with regard to amalgamations and the proposed amalgamation of St. Peter's boys' national school, St. Paul's junior girls' national school and St. Paul's senior girls' national school.