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

I thank Senator Lorraine Higgins for raising this issue which gives me the opportunity to clarify the situation and to report progress.

The five-year construction plan announced in March 2012 outlines the major school projects which will commence construction over the duration of the plan. A project in respect of Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha has been included in the plan and is scheduled to proceed to construction in 2015-16. I can advise that officials from my Department have been working closely with Galway County Council officials with regard to securing a suitable site to facilitate the delivery of permanent school accommodation for Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha in Tuam. A suitable site has been identified and the site acquisition process is at an advanced stage. However, during the conveyancing process issues outside the control of the Department have emerged which need to be addressed as part of due diligence in order for the conveyancing process to be satisfactorily completed. As the site acquisition is at conveyancing stage with legal issues being progressed and due to commercial sensitivities it would not be appropriate to provide further information at this stage.

Once the acquisition of the site is finalised this will enable the building project for the Gaelscoil to be progressed towards the construction stage. Under the Department's rapid design and build programme the tender process for a building contractor has been running in parallel with the site acquisition process. The appointment of the contractor will be concluded when the site acquisition process is complete.

I wish to assure the Senator that the officials from my Department are aware of the pressing need to acquire the site in order to facilitate the provision of a new school building. In that regard every effort is being made to advance the process to allow the project proceed to construction as soon as possible. I thank the Senator for raising the matter and I hope that this reply outlines the current position. I offer apologies from my senior colleague who is currently in Boston.