Rory Kiely (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on Senator Kitt, I welcome the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, and congratulate her on her promotion, which is very well deserved.

Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue. I welcome the Minister to the Seanad and congratulate her on her promotion.

I would like to share my time with Senator Ulick Burke. I want to raise the issue of the amalgamation of St. Patrick's College and St. Jarlath's College in Tuam, the latter school being my own alma mater. The boards of management of both schools have been in contact with me about what they feel is the lack of progress in this proposed amalgamation, which was announced seven years ago. The progress has been slow. Both schools have worked hard to pave the way for the realisation of the project. They would like the necessary planning and development of the proposal to proceed as quickly as possible. However, the situation has presented difficulties for the two schools, particularly in regard to long-term planning, maintenance and staffing levels. It is urgent that the project should be completed as quickly as possible. To that end, the boards of management and principals of the two schools have invited public representatives in the constituency of Galway East to a meeting next Friday week.

The buildings at St. Patrick's College are very poor. It would like an answer as to what is happening and the meeting to which I referred is being held at the college to highlight its poor facilities. St. Jarlath's College has been a boarding school for many years. Two years ago, it stopped taking in boarders and, as a result, numbers have reduced. It also finds it difficult to plan for the amalgamation, which was announced seven years ago. It is time to put in place the planning and design for the project. I understand St. Jarlath's will be the base for the project as it has adequate land for the necessary buildings. However, no progress is being made at present and I raise the issue to try to obtain further information on the proposed amalgamation.

Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister and thank Senator Kitt for sharing his time with me. I endorse Senator Kitt's point. When two schools decide to amalgamate on an agreed basis, this should not be neglected but endorsed and moved along as quickly as possible, as should be the case in Tuam. This is a time of great change for the staff, boards of management and trustees of both colleges. It is, therefore, important the Minister moves the project forward so that progress can take place in an atmosphere of mutual respect and agreement.

All too often, the idea of amalgamation has caused great dissension and division between staffs. When a proposal is agreed by the boards of management and all involved, they should be enabled to work together. These staff will have to complete their working lives together and, as Senator Kitt stated, it is important we move quickly to achieve a resolution and that a timeframe is given so there will be no opportunity for some to begin complaining, which would lead to further disruption. If the project is delayed for too long, perhaps some other plans will be put in place which would jeopardise the concept of amalgamation.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for your welcome and kind comments. I also thank Senator Kitt for raising this issue, one of the schools being his alma mater, and Senator Ulick Burke for his comments. Senator Burke is correct that significant change is involved in regard to education structure, demographics and needs among trustees of the schools, which is not only significant for the education service but very emotional for those involved. It is important that this be dealt with sympathetically.

There are five post-primary schools in Tuam — two voluntary secondary boys' schools, two voluntary secondary girls' schools and the vocational school which is co-educational. In late 2000, the four voluntary second level schools in Tuam agreed a rationalisation programme. Agreement was reached with the relevant trustees to form a single boys' and a single girls' school, each to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 700 pupils. The vocational school is not part of that move. The school planning section of my Department agreed with the management authorities of both schools involved in the amalgamation of the boys' school that the optimum plan to address the accommodation needs of the single school which will result from the amalgamation is to extend facilities at St. Jarlath's College and to refurbish the existing facilities. The objective is to ensure that facilities at the new school will serve the needs of the school community well into the future.

Obviously, given the comments of Senator Kitt, the school and community want to know when this plan will be implemented. While I cannot be specific, we recognise in our building programme the importance of amalgamation and all it involves. I intend to publish the multi-annual school building programme before the end of the year and this will provide clarity, including in regard to the planned project at St Jarlath's College.

As it is an amalgamation and because of the co-operation of all involved, the project carries a high priority rating of band 1.4. This rating and the background of the schools will have a positive influence on the timescale for delivery of the project, which I hope will be evident when the plan is published at the end of the year. My officials have been in contact with the school authorities to progress the detailed preliminary work necessary to facilitate this large-scale building project. I hope we can continue in the programme to determine in an open and transparent way how projects are included for funding. We also want to be fair to everybody while recognising all that is involved in amalgamations.