Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking the matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who sends her apologies. She cannot be here due to the change in schedule. I thank Senator Healy Eames for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the current position in regard to the proposed amalgamation of the Mercy and Presentation schools in Galway city.

I understand from the Senator's contribution that she may now have information that is nearly as up to date as ours, unlike when she originally submitted this motion. As such, she will be aware that the patron and the boards of management of the Presentation secondary school and Mercy College, Newtownsmith, on 8 January issued a press release announcing the next stage in a process that envisages their amalgamation from September 2016. As the Senator may be aware, the decision-making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. The initiative for any amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, boards of management and patrons. Any such proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, namely, students, parents, teachers and local communities. A decision taken at local level will follow that consultation process. A decision will not be forced on anyone.

The primary reason for the amalgamation is due to the decline in pupil numbers. In the case of the Presentation school, pupil numbers have declined from 395 pupils in 1999 to 214 pupils in 2014, whereas the decline in the case of Mercy College has been from 463 mainstream pupils and 30 post-leaving certificate, PLC, pupils in 1999 to 240 mainstream pupils and eight PLC pupils in 2014. The view of the patron following a process of consultation is that, unless an amalgamation takes place, the future viability of the schools is in question. The patron and the respective schools envisage that the new amalgamated school will cater for more than 500 girls and allow for a broader curriculum and new programme options.

The patron and the respective schools have also determined that the new amalgamated school should be located on the Presentation secondary school's site. In reaching this decision, the patron and schools had available to them an independent technical report that reviewed the curricular capacity of the buildings and sites of both schools. While deficits of accommodation in both buildings were identified, the report recommended that the Presentation secondary school building was the location that required the least amount of remodelling of the existing structure and had the potential for expansion to accommodate a combined curriculum and additional teaching spaces. This is the main reason for the decision. The patron has advised the Department that it accepted the report's recommendation that the Presentation building and site were the most suitable for an amalgamated school.

To support the amalgamation process, it is understood that a steering group is being established that will comprise nominees of parents, teachers and members of the boards of management of both schools. It is also envisaged that, from next September, both schools will co-operate closely in their curricular provision. The patron is continuing to engage with the Department in respect of this process.

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the proposed amalgamation of both schools in Galway city. She also raised the question of a gym, so I will ask the Department to revert to her with a comment on same. I presume that, when the two schools are being amalgamated, there might be an opportunity to realise some finance from the site that will not be used. It is a local issue, but this possibility should be considered. There will be an opportunity to use the site for something else that could generate an income that could contribute to a gym. The Senator is right, in that the Department has been trying to maximise accommodation for new pupils throughout the country. The majority of funding, which is taxpayers' money, is being used to build new classrooms as opposed to other facilities. While I agree that all schools need those other facilities, including gyms where possible, tight resources will be concentrated on the necessities, namely, the teaching end of things. The Senator is correct that gyms are just as important and I hope that the Department will soon be in a position to resume funding them.