Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education. I take this opportunity to congratulate her and the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, on the voted capital allocations in the national development plan that have increased from €740 million to over €1 billion in 2025. Obviously cost inflation will account for some of the increase, and that is something that is increasingly problematic or worrying, but there is a commitment to continue the development of school infrastructure and buildings in this capital allocation.

Last December, I tabled Commencement debates on both of these school projects and on that occasion the Minister replied. We have done a lot of good work on school infrastructure in Galway over the last decade. In my own constituency we have new developments such as Merlin College, Merlin Woods Primary School, Gaelscoil de hÍde, Coláiste na Coiribe, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh and the new schools in Clifden, Oughterard, Na Forbacha, Claregalway and Lackagh.

A lot of good work has been done and some extensions in places like Rosmuck and Scoil Fhursa in Galway city among others. However, a number of new projects and new schools buildings are needed, including Scoil Mhuire in Moycullen. It is my old alma materthat I attended up to 1987 so the project is very personal to me in terms of making progress. There is also Scoil Chaitríona junior and senior schools in Renmore. I seek an update on both of these projects. Scoil Mhuire in Moycullen has nearly 400 children and was put on the five-year Schools Building Programme 2016-2021. I set up a number of meetings and progress was made with the then Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Joe McHugh. There were also a number of meetings with the board of management. There were a lot of issues concerning the most appropriate site and the associated costs but a decision was made to rebuild on the existing school site. In April or May 2020 sign-off was given for new and rather impressive prefabs that have since been installed. They are quite modern and very large, which is a big improvement on what existed previously. From the excitement of the school being planned from 2016 onwards to still awaiting on the planning application to be lodged and all that goes with that, there is some concern. Therefore, I seek an update.

Scoil Chaitríona, Renmore, has sought a new school building for a number of years. There has been an issue with an alternative site. The school was requested to look at alternatives and when it did it said there were none. The school is located in the middle of a city so it would be difficult to find a new site. There is a green area across the road from the existing school that is in the ownership of Galway City Council. The school sought to incorporate the green area not as part of the school building but as part of a site for recreational amenities. The school sought to reconfigure the existing site but use the green space as part of the play area for the school. I seek an update on the engagement that has taken place. Again, there have been a lot of meetings and a lot of good work has been done by the board of management with the bishop's office in Galway and Galway City Council. The Minister pointed out that a full commitment has been given to get these projects over the line.The pupils, teachers, staff and parents in the Renmore area have been waiting some time for this project. If the Minister of State could give an update on that project as well, I would appreciate it.