Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education, to clarify the current position regarding Meán Scoil Mhuire in Longford with which I am very familiar.

Meán Scoil Mhuire is an all-girls Catholic school that is under the trusteeship of CEIST, which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1861. The enrolment for the school for the 2021-22 academic year is 591 pupils. There has consistently been strong enrolment in this school and that is expected to continue.

Meán Scoil Mhuire submitted an application under the Department's additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and special education needs accommodation are available to cater for pupils enrolled each year where the need cannot be met by the school's existing accommodation. Officials from the Department assessed the application and identified a deficit in the school's current accommodation based on projected future enrolment. As part of that assessment process, officials from the Department's professional and technical section identified significant challenges in providing the level of accommodation required on the existing school site. In this context, the Department has engaged with CEIST, as patron of Meán Scoil Mhuire, in order to identify and assess potential long-term solutions for the school. All potential options for the accommodation of the school will be assessed in the context of projected medium to long-term school place requirements in the area. That will be done on the following basis: the deliverability of the options; value for money considerations; climate action goals; and Project Ireland 2040 objectives around compact growth and sustainability.

As an interim measure, and in response to the safe re-opening of schools due to the Covid pandemic, the rental of an additional building by the school was supported by my Department. My Department will continue to work closely with CEIST, as school patron, to identify and advance the optimum solution to meet the long-term needs of Meán Scoil Mhuire.

I am familiar with the school. Indeed, the Sisters of Mercy opened a school in my own town of Boyle many years ago. I thank the congregation for the opportunities and great work they have done in Boyle, Longford and many other areas around the country because sometimes that work, and vocation, go unnoticed. In my own town a lot of work has been done. Christy Wynne has relations in Longford and wrote a nice two lines on the history. It was very encouraging to read that history. On behalf of the people in my own town of Boyle, and I am sure the Senator will concur, I thank the Sisters of Mercy for the great work they have done over the years.