Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for attending the House. My concerns are based on building projects under the aegis of the Department of Education and Science, and particularly Athlone Community College. Those concerned with this fine school — including its pupils, parents, the CEO and committee of Westmeath VEC, the board of management and staff — are seeking clarification on a starting date for the new school building. It was promised well over a year ago and has a priority 1 rating.

After the completion of a feasibility study in 2002, which was commissioned by Westmeath VEC at considerable cost, it was recommended that a new school should be built. After lengthy discussions, Westmeath VEC purchased lands in Athlone for the new school. The VEC was informed by the Department of Education and Science that the school would be built in record time, as design templates were in place for such projects. The Department further encouraged parents, pupils and staff by engaging them in the design of the new facility. Updates were sought and provided and until recently everything looked positive. The VEC committee was led to believe that it was simply a matter of tendering for the design team. The executive and the principal even had an information evening, including a powerpoint presentation, to outline the timescale, stages and procedures. A PSD was also put in place to liaise and advise on how to appoint this said design team.

However, the position is now less than clear. Responses from the Department are infrequent and the impression is being given that this project may not be as important as others in Dublin, which Senator Dominic Hannigan also mentioned. I hope this is not the case as provision of education facilities is fundamental to the growth of Athlone as a town in the midland gateway.

For well over 12 months until July of this year, this project was on course. Since July, only one month after the general election, communications have virtually ceased. The communications which take place are mixed. For example, in July, the chief executive officer of Westmeath Vocational Education Committee wrote to the school planning and building section in Tullamore responding to a letter that outlined the schedule of overall accommodation for the proposed new school. In this letter, the CEO thanked the school planning and building section for the speed in progressing the project, as it had been very efficient up to this point. The CEO observed that the total floor area of 8,168 sq. m was less than adequate for a school of 1,000 pupils and the space both externally and internally in terms of playing pitches and parking was inadequate. There were not enough parking places for teachers, not to mention ancillary staff and pupils. The floor space does not compare to other school projects recently completed around the country. On a pro rata comparison, I understand the floor area should be of the order of 9,400 sq. m.

After this letter had been sent, a meeting was requested by the CEO and the principal. This meeting eventually took place after some time and was convened in the offices of the VEC in Mullingar. The CEO and the principal had a very focused agenda but the officials from the planning and building section had a completely different one. The new secondary school for Athlone Community College was not the issue.

On behalf of those whose heart is set on this new school, I implore the Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, to speak to the Minister for Education and Science and encourage her and the Department to proceed with this very worthwhile project. I acknowledge the amount of money which has been spent on capital projects in Athlone. The Our Lady's Bower secondary school is nearly completed and I acknowledge the €600 million that has been allocated. However, because Athlone Community College is a band 1 priority, it should also be included.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin. I thank Senator Nicky McFadden for raising this matter as it provides me the opportunity to outline to the House the broader actions being taken by the Department of Education and Science to identify and address the long-term educational needs of the Athlone area and the position in regard to the building project for Athlone Community College in particular.

In regard to Athlone generally, the school planning section of the Department has identified the town as an area of rapid development and, consequently, it is currently examining its future educational infrastructural needs at both primary and post primary level. The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities in any given area entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Liaison with existing schools is also an important part of the process. In this way, every effort is made to ensure there is adequate existing provision and that timely arrangements are made to extend capacity or provide new infrastructure where necessary.

In addition, local authorities are obliged by statute to refer draft local area development plans to the Department for observation and comment so that lands can be zoned for future education use. There are numerous sites reserved for education purposes, particularly in the rapidly developing areas, under this process to ensure that there will be sufficient land set aside and available for the future development of education infrastructure. Over and above the statutory consultation provisions in regard to local authority draft area development plans, the Department of Education and Science has, in recent years, worked to strengthen contacts with local authorities to enable informed decisions to be made in planning future educational provision.

Senator McFadden may be aware that the programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a developing areas unit in the Department of Education and Science and I am pleased to inform her that this unit has now been established. It is located in Tullamore and forms part of the Department's planning and building division already based in that location. The unit will be solely dedicated to progressing school planning in rapidly developing areas building on improvements that have already been made in school planning in recent years. Staff in the unit will liaise with local authorities, identify where new schools are needed and ensure they are delivered in the fastest possible timeframe.

It is expected that the exercise being carried out for Athlone will be completed shortly and the outcome will be the blueprint for educational infrastructure in the area for the foreseeable future. Naturally, the type of exercise referred to takes take time and there are immediate needs which have to be addressed in tandem.

In this regard, a decision has already been taken to replace and expand the existing Athlone Community College. The new building, when complete, will cater for 1,000 pupils. The project has advanced to the point where schedules of accommodation have been drawn up. These were issued for observations to the Westmeath Vocational Education Committee and its response in this regard is being considered in the Department. Once the schedules are finalised the commencement of the architectural planning and design process will be considered under the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. I thank the Senator again for raising this matter.