Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach chun an cheist seo a fhreagairt. I raise the matter of the amalgamation of three schools in Greenhills. While the amalgamation is going ahead, I raise in particular the methodology of communication on how this arose in the first instance, which left a great deal to be desired. The rules and procedures in place appear to be merely written down and are not to be observed. The first that parents heard about this was a note in the schoolbag to say it was a done deal and that was the end of the story. The first the Department of Education and Skills heard about it was at more or less the same time.

Last year, I asked a question about this and the Department did not know anything about it. The matter is in the prerogative of Archbishop's House in conjunction with the parish. The communication came directly from the school via the schoolbags of the children, but that is not the methodology laid down for consultation. Working in partnership in education we have parents, boards of management, school management, patrons and the Department. They should all work together according to a procedure which is laid down. This needs to be clarified in relation to how one goes about amalgamating schools, who is to be consulted and how such consultation is to take place.

The parents contacted me and I knew as much about it as they did, which was nothing. I had to bring all I could together into a meeting room to get some information. I must say that when I contacted the Department of Education and Skills, it gave me any information it had. When I contacted Archbishop's House the information then came forward, but it was not forthcoming before. What worries the parents is that while the amalgamation is going ahead, the buildings, space, location and services have not been outlined or timelined. In particular, it is a worry for parents whose children are on the autism spectrum as the ASD unit in St. Peter's national school will be amalgamated into St. Paul's national school. When will they see the services and when will they see written confirmation that the services they have now will be maintained and enhanced? They definitely do not want to go backwards and at least want to ensure the service and space goes with them. I do not know where the sensory room in St. Peter's national school will go.

When will we see detailed plans for the amalgamation arrangements? There is an apparent lack of space at the moment and three into two will not go. Just today, I received a separate communication from the Department to say there is some funding available for buildings. Can the Minister outline what is there and when it is expected to be on the ground? When two schools are being put together, it must be given priority. It is not a new school, but will be the same over on another field and there will be less space. I also ask the Minister to comment on the outdoor play space area. What is left there and what is in the hands of the parish? The parish owns a certain bit of land outside the school. Is it possible to include that in the negotiation? With concerns about obesity, outside play space is as important as inside play space, particularly for PE. To have teachers juggling when they let children out because of space is not fair. There is land there that should be used.It was part of the school but it is fenced off at the moment. Will the Minister comment on that in the context of the amalgamation? Rather than using this space for anything else, it should be used for outdoor activities. Has agreement been reached? If so, what is its status within the Department? The new school is planned for next September but many parents are not happy that they have been given sufficient information about the accommodation, facilities, services, money and new buildings. What new buildings will be provided?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Gabhaim buíochas don Seanadóir as ucht seans a thabhairt dom an cheist seo a phlé agus a bheith níos soiléire on the position of the amalgamation of three national schools in Greenhills - St. Paul's senior girls, St. Paul's junior girls and St. Peter's boys.

In January 2014, the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Paul the Apostle transferred the trusteeship of St. Paul's senior national school to the Dublin archdiocese. This transfer meant that the three primary schools in Greenhills parish were under diocesan responsibility and the patron deemed it an opportune time to review the provision of Catholic primary school education in the parish. The patron's office subsequently commenced discussions with the boards of management of the three schools regarding the future requirements for Catholic primary education in Greenhills parish. Following a number of meetings, agreement was reached with the three boards that there would be a junior and a senior co-educational school on the St. Paul's site. Taking into account representations from the three boards that sufficient time would be allowed for the smooth transition, it was decided that the two new schools would commence operation in September 2015.

The patron's office has confirmed that accommodation for the children in the ASD unit has been a major consideration in these negotiations. While the junior school has such a unit, the senior school has also agreed to establish one following a request from the National Council for Special Education. My Department has confirmed its willingness to provide grant aid to both schools to establish these units, which will also include sensory rooms. My officials will continue to work closely with the schools to ensure this permanent accommodation is put in place. In the meantime, the schools are undertaking conversion works to the toilet areas to facilitate the co-education arrangement from next September and my Department is providing grants to the schools for these works.

The schools have decided that the introduction of co-education will be on a phased basis in the two new schools. Co-education will commence with junior infants in September 2015 in the new junior school. The current single sex classes will remain unchanged for the next number of years to allow the transition to take place. These classes will be accommodated in either the new junior or the new senior school. In some cases, there may be agreement with parents for other classes to become co-educational. This is a matter for the school community to decide. The two schools will be known as Holy Spirit junior primary school and Holy Spirit senior primary school.

The mainstream staffing levels in the schools will comprise a principal and 12 mainstream classroom teachers in the junior school and a principal and 11 mainstream classroom teachers in the senior school as well as two special class teachers. In addition, three amalgamation concessionary teaching posts will be approved between the two schools. The resource teaching and English as an additional language, EAL, provision will remain at current levels, namely, the junior school will have 2.6 posts and the senior school will have 2.4 posts. In June 2015, the patron intends appointing a single manager to oversee the transition and assist in establishing two new boards of management.

I do not have specific information on the outside play area. Perhaps I can revert to the Senator on that.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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An bhfuil an Seanadóir sásta?

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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Tá mé sásta but more communication will be necessary on the ground with the schools and the parents. The communication of these changes to the teachers was a problem as well. The Minister stated, "My officials will continue to work closely with the schools to ensure this permanent accommodation is put in place", but she did not outline a timetable. That should be in place this year. Minor works are under way to convert toilets for boys and girls. Will the permanent accommodation be in place at the end of this year or early in 2016? We need a date, given it will be a large school. Will the Minister revert on those two issues?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Certainly. Is the Senator asking about the sensory rooms in the special units or the accommodation in general?

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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The accommodation in general. I do not mind whether the sensory units are in the old building or the new building but I would like to know about the play space, when the new buildings will be constructed and when the money will be available for that.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I will come back to the Senator.