Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister. This is a very important issue in my area, Greenhills-Limekiln, involving the proposed amalgamation of three schools into one. The schools in question are St. Peter's boys' national school, St. Paul's junior girls' national school and St. Paul's senior girls' national school. There is a lack of information on the ground about the proposed amalgamation. Nobody, including the parents, seems to know anything it. I contacted the Department of Education and Skills about the matter in recent weeks and while I appreciated the response, it gave me no further information. A considerable number of concerned parents want me to express their views and see if I can obtain any further information.

The archdiocese has been in touch with the three school principals to inform them about this issue. The Minister informed me in writing that while his Department was aware of the patron's proposals - the proposal has not come from the Department of Education and Skills - it had not received any proposal. I do not know if the Minister can provide further clarification.

Will the Minister of State inform me when he receives the exact proposals? I raised this matter with him a short time ago, perhaps two or three weeks ago. He previously told me that any proposals on the amalgamation must involve consultation with the relevant stakeholders, parents and so on. There has been no consultation as yet.

Will the Minister of State outline the process of consultation, who initiates it, and whether the Department of Education and Skills has a role, if it is not initiated on the ground, to ensure that all the parties are consulted? Many parents have expressed concerned about the process of consultation. I have not encountered much negativity to the proposal as a whole. Not everyone would be against it, as many parents would like the choice of a co-educational school. They express the desire for parental choice and involvement, rather than a dictatorial announcement. The lack of consultation and the haste of the decision really frustrated people. Many people, including myself, had asked that the amalgamation be postponed because of the lack of information.

An issue that was brought to my attention was with regard to the autistic spectrum disorder special class in St. Peter's boys' national school. Parents wondered if this special class would be retained with the same facilities in the proposed new school. The HSE Beechpark service gives a very good service in providing the school with clinical support in the area of psychology, behaviour management and speech and language. The girls' schools do not have a similar special class. Parents want to ensure that all of the existing services will be retained and are anxious to learn what additional facilities will come on stream when the boys' and girls' schools are amalgamated. Will the Minister of State please comment on this point when responding to the questions?

What is the timeframe for the commencement and the procedure for the amalgamation? Is there a process for consultation with all the parents? Will the current facilities and building be used to accommodate the amalgamation? Will individual classes be amalgamated? The boys' national school is amalgamating with the girls' junior and senior national schools. Some parents welcome co-education but others may not. Will parents have a choice of single-sex education? Will a costing of the proposal be available from the Department of Education and Skills and will there be a comparison with the current cost of funding three schools? When will a project team be appointed to oversee the amalgamation? What will happen to the redundant school building when the amalgamated school is in operation? Will the redundant school building be available for educational purposes in the area? At present one of the schools has a parents' room, and the parents really want to ensure that such a facility will be available in the amalgamated school.

I have asked a great many questions, which I am prepared to put in writing if the Minister does not have all the answers for me this evening.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position in relation to the proposed merger of St. Peter's boys' national school and St. Paul's girls junior and senior primary schools.

I wish to advise the Senator that the initiative for any amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, board of management and patron or patrons of each school. Any such proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders. Following the consultation process, a decision taken at local level will follow. Let me stress that the decision will be taken at local level. In that regard, any proposed changes must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers and local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.

Every amalgamation case needs to be considered by all involved on its individual merits. In many cases, there will be a strong case for progressing with an amalgamation. For example, in the case of very small schools with decreasing numbers, parents and the local school community may themselves see benefits in amalgamation opportunities. In areas of mature population where enrolment numbers are decreasing over time and school buildings are not being utilised to full capacity, or where there is separate single-sex provision and a local parental preference for co-educational arrangements, there can also be strong merit in such proposals. Equally, it has to be recognised that there can be significant sensitivities involved. These are best addressed through a process of local-level dialogue and consultation aimed at ensuring that any proposal meets the interests of the communities concerned.

The decision-making authority for the amalgamation of any school is the patron of the school concerned, and the decision is then subject to the final approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. In that regard, I wish to advise the Senator that while my Department is aware of the patron's proposals to merge the three schools concerned, to date the Department has received no proposal from the patron or trustees in the matter. On receipt of any such proposal, the Department will consider the matter, taking into account factors including the current provision and the future demand for primary school places in the Greenhills-Limekiln area, the future use of any buildings and any capital funding implications.

It is not necessarily the case with all amalgamation proposals that capital investment would be needed to support amalgamation. However, each case is assessed on an individual basis to determine the extent and type of accommodation required, taking into account the condition of buildings, site capacity, etc.

My Department would also generally advise the patron and any relevant stakeholders to check out their position with the relevant sections of my Department in relation to the implications of any amalgamation for school funding, school staffing and school transport so that an informed decision can be made about any amalgamation proposal.

Senator Keane raised the issue of the significant additional special needs services provided by HSE. One would assume that in any amalgamation the special needs provision would be continued on the basis that the needs arise from within the community and would consequently have to be accommodated in the process of amalgamation.

I wish to thank the Senator again for giving me the opportunity to clarify the current position with regard to amalgamations and the proposed amalgamation of St. Peter's boys' national school, St. Paul's junior girls' national school and St. Paul's senior girls' national school.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response and acknowledge that at present he has no information. The Department of Education and Skills, not the patron, is responsible for education. As the Minister of State stated, the initiative of amalgamation can come from many sources. There has been no consultation on the ground. As I am trying to facilitate the process of consultation, I would like to be guided on who should initiate and facilitate the consultation. Will the Minister of State come back to me with a response on that issue? Perhaps he could make himself available when all the bodies in the community come together. I understand a new principal will be appointed in one of the schools.

I rang the office of the Archdiocese of Dublin to elicit information and found it open. The person with whom I spoke told me what he or she knew. It is important for the community that consultation is initiated to get the process off the ground. I have not mentioned the role of the teachers, who are a very important element in the process of amalgamation. Their needs have to be taken into consideration as well.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Senator is well aware that each school is an independent autonomous entity, managed by a board of management, primarily appointed by the patron and representatives drawn from within the school community. The process of consultation must be initiated by the boards of management of each respective school. One would expect that when the consultation process begins there will be ample opportunity for parents, teachers and members of the wider community to have a role in determining the shape of the process of amalgamation. Once the significant process of consultation has been completed and a firm proposal is ready to be submitted to the Department of Education and Skills, the Department has a role in the amalgamation process. It must be the decision of the community and the respective boards of management as to how the proposed amalgamation will take place. At present, it would be premature for the Department to be involved because the significant process of consultation has not taken place.