Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He dealt with an Adjournment matter on this issue before on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills.

There are three post-primary schools in Ennistymon, County Clare, providing educational support to approximately 600 students in buildings which are outdated, unsuitable and located in different parts of the town. In order to provide students with the suite of subjects which would be expected in a normal educational environment, students have to commute by foot from one school to another, irrespective of the inclement weather in winter or summer or the time that is wasted in terms of lost academic hours. Of even more concern is the fact that there are serious health and safety issues with children crossing roads to commute between two or three different parts of the town and schools which are located at opposite ends of the town. There are also other health and safety issues. There is always a threat to young people who travel on foot from one school to another. The situation is unacceptable.

Previous Governments promised a new community school would be built which would provide the necessary equipment, such as computers and science facilities, and that students under the one roof would have the same choice of subjects, comfort and educational supports available in many other towns with community schools. Too often an excuse was given that there was an issue with the transfer of land from the religious orders to facilitate the construction of a community school. My understanding from the Sisters of Mercy is that there are no further hurdles preventing the school moving to the design and build phase. I understand all lands which were required to be transferred to the State have been transferred. The matter is now on the desk of the Minister for Education and Skills and the school building unit in Tullamore in terms of moving the project forward.

It is appalling that in this day and age, and given the fact that this school has been promised for over 30 years, teachers, who are doing their very best to provide the best possible support and teaching service they can to students, are still operating out of cramped, overcrowded buildings which are not fit for purpose and students have to commute between one school and another to obtain a choice of subjects, which may not even be an optimum choice. The students in Ennistymon are being discriminated against compared with other towns, not just in County Clare but throughout the country. For the life of me I cannot understand why the project is not proceeding as a matter of urgency. I will continue to raise this matter on the floor of the Seanad until I get a satisfactory response. A working group comprising trustees, teachers and public representatives is now trying to move the process forward. It held a meeting two or three weeks ago and it seems as though the project has stalled. That is unacceptable. It is a pity the Minister for Education and Skills is not here to reply but I look forward to the reply from the Minister of State.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, who regrets very much that it cannot be here. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position in regard to the application for major capital funding for a proposed community school in Ennistymon.

As the Senator will be aware, the three post-primary schools in Ennistymon have agreed to amalgamate on delivery of a new school building. This building project will require a suitable site for it to be progressed. As the Senator will also be aware, a site has been identified for this purpose. The religious congregation which owns the property concerned has offered to transfer the site to the State as part of its offer of a number of properties made in response to the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Ryan report.

In that regard, the Oireachtas enacted the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act in 2012 and section 42 of this Act, which sets out provisions relating to the charitable status of contributions by congregations, was commenced in March 2013. Section 42 empowers the Commissioners for Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland to authorise property transfers and sales related to the making of contributions by congregations to the residential institutions statutory fund or as contributions towards the cost of the response to residential abuse. The recent commencement of section 42 will facilitate the transfer of properties to the Minister for Education and Skills, such as in the case of Ennistymon.

The Government has agreed to accept the property in question and my Department, through the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, is currently working on finalising the transfer of the property. When it has been completed, my Department will be in a position to consider further how this project could be progressed within the context of the available funding. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the request for funding towards a building project for a proposed community school in Ennistymon.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My understanding is that all land transfers have taken place. I would like the Minister to establish a clear timeline as to when we can expect the Department to be in a position to move to planning, design and tender. This matter has been kicked down the road by previous Governments. I am sure the issues with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor could have been resolved a lot sooner. We are where we are. The next generation of young people in north Clare who will be educated in Ennistymon deserve a much better service from the Government and Department than they are getting. I want a clear timeline, in terms of months and years, which is realistic and not one which will inevitably be broken, as to when we can expect this to move to the next phase, namely, planning, design and tender.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not able to answer that question directly. As the Minister stated, section 42 will facilitate the transfer of the properties, which is very important, and the Government has agreed to accept the property. Section 42 only commenced in March. The Minister said he will be in a position to consider further how the project could be progressed. I suggest the community group dealing with the matter arrange to meet the Minister directly to see how best the matter can be progressed.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister does not appear to be meeting any group.