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

I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, Minister for Education and Skills. I wish to thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position relating to the application for a new school building in the case of Scoil Naomh Éanna, Bullaun, Loughrea, County Galway.

The Senator will be aware that the over-riding objective of education capital expenditure is to meet the demographic challenge facing the education system whereby total pupil enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by around 107,000 additional pupils between 2012 and 2019 - over 70,000 at primary level and over 35,000 at post primary - and will continue to rise at post-primary level to the year 2026 at least. The five-year construction plan prioritises major school projects in areas where future significant demographic changes have been identified.

In this regard, Loughrea has not been identified as an area of significant demographic growth. Pupil enrolment projections for Loughrea indicate that enrolments will remain relatively stable for the foreseeable future. However, the Department has acknowledged the accommodation issues outlined here today arising in respect of Scoil Naomh Éanna, Bullaun. Having examined the existing school site, it became apparent in late 2013 that the site is too restricted and cannot be expanded to meet the deficit of permanent accommodation and provide an appropriate wastewater treatment system for the school in question. In that regard, it was concluded that a new school site is required.

In that context, the school advised during a meeting with Department officials in December 2013 that the patron is willing to offer a green field site for a new school development. The Department requested site maps and confirmation from the patron that the green field site would be offered for development. The information requested was received by the Department in early 2014 on foot of which a technical site visit was undertaken.

Following the site visit, the school's board of management were advised in mid-2014 to appoint a suitably qualified consultant engineer to examine and comment on the ground conditions and water treatment system requirements in respect of the proposed green field site. The board of management was also advised that it would also be necessary for the consultant to hold a pre-planning meeting with Galway County Council regarding the site's suitability for development. The consultant appointed by the board of management concluded that a further tier two assessment of the site would be required and my Department's technical advisers concurred with this advice. This completed report was submitted to the Department in early 2015. The report has been considered and the Department is satisfied that the proposed site is suitable for the development of a new school building. As a result of this, I am pleased to inform the Senator that this project will be progressed into the architectural planning process without delay so it is beginning to move through those gears.

The building project for Scoil Naomh Éanna is one of a number of schools which it was not possible to include in the five-year construction programme. However, the school project will be progressed to the final planning stages so that it will be well placed for consideration in the context of future construction programmes. Hopefully, the next one will be announced later on this year. I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to clarify the current position in relation to Scoil Naomh Éanna.