Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to the House.

Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister, Deputy Bruton, for coming to the House to take this issue. It is a very important issue for parents and pupils in the constituency of Limerick City.

I want to clarify a number of points with the Minister. The two schools in question are for the Dooradoyle, Raheen and Mungret area to be based in Mungret, and the greater Castletroy area. They are known as the Limerick city environs south west for Dooradoyle, Raheen and Mungret, and Limerick city environs east and the greater Castletroy area.

The need for these schools was highlighted in a report on the configuration and development of post-primary school provision for Limerick city and parts of its environs from 2014 to 2024 which was completed for the Department in 2014. The report identified a need for two new schools in the Dooradoyle, Raheen and Mungret area to be based in Mungret, and the greater Castletroy area. In the Dooradoyle, Raheen and Mungret area it showed an expected population increase of 5,400 up to 2022 and for Castletroy an extra 3,600 in population. Specifically, it stated that there was a need over the next ten years for an extra 1,700 post-primary places in Limerick city and its environs and these two areas were identified. The Department document, Arrangement for Patronage in the Establishment of New Post Primary Schools, refers to demographics. The two areas requiring two new secondary schools were the Dooradoyle, Raheen and Mungret area, and the greater Castletroy area.

The closing date for applications from patrons was Wednesday, 8 June. How many potential patrons applied and who were they? What is the timeframe for the consideration? When will the announcement be made? What are the criteria for the selection of the patron? It is extremely important that the needs of children and their parents, living in the areas identified in the report completed for the Department in 2014 are catered for. Those areas are Dooradoyle, Raheen and Mungret, and the greater Castletroy area. They were the areas that had huge growth in the population of school-going children giving rise to the need for schools to be located in those areas.

Can the Minister confirm the proposed sites for these two new schools in Mungret and Castletroy?What sites have been identified and where does the Minister expect them to be? When are the schools expected to be opened? We understand that the two schools will each cater for 600 pupils and it is extremely important that parents are given certainty about the building programme. We understand that Mungret will be opening in September 2017 and that the school to be located in the greater Castletroy area will open in September 2018. Living in Castletroy, I am aware that we have a fine school in Castletroy College, but there is a clear need for another school to cater for the increasing number of school-going children coming up. Preference forms were provided whereby parents had to indicate to the Department which patron they preferred. It made no reference to the school that the particular student or pupil was attending. I hope there will be such a reference as it would give a clear indication of the need within the schools in the areas of Dooradoyle, Raheen, Mungret and Castletroy.

Finally, who will be making the recommendation? It is something parents and pupils are entitled to certainty on. The wishes of parents living in the areas to which I refer must be given weight and taken on board in terms of the criteria being considered as to who will be appointed patron and the type of school it will be. The Minister might just provide clarity in that regard.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator O'Donnell for raising the matter of these two schools. He has outlined a great deal of the relevant information himself. A demographic assessment was published in 2015 and at that stage nine new schools were announced to be opened in 2017 and 2018, including two in Limerick. One was announced for 2017 for Limerick city and its south-west area at Mungret and the other for 2018 serving the Limerick city environs to the east, including Castletroy. Each school will provide approximately 600 post-primary places to add to the provision.

As the Senator said, we invited applications for patronage in April with a closing date of 8 June. Parental preferences for each patron together with the extent of diversity currently available in the area will be the key to decisions made in the process. We seek to ensure that there is diversity in the offer looking at what is already available in the area and then parental preferences. In this regard, prospective patrons were requested to submit with their applications a parental preference template in which parents had been requested to indicate a preference for their children to be educated through that patron's school model and also whether the preference was for instruction through the medium of Irish or English. The closing date was 8 June. I do not have the full list of patrons that have submitted their applications although I am sure I could provide that for the Senator. The system is that applications from the prospective patrons are now being assessed and an assessment report will be prepared for the consideration of the new schools establishment group. The group, which is independent, adjudicates on applications. It will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. I will announce the patronage of the school following the completion of this process. The patronage assessment report will be published on my Department's website.

The Senator raised an issue as to the catchment within which the assessment of parental preference occurs. My understanding is that it is the planning area as defined by the Department. These are broad areas of which are 310 throughout the country. Any parent within that catchment is generally assessed. I note the Senator's concern that the views of people in the immediate area must be taken into account. Obviously, they will be. However, my understanding is that no greater weighting is afforded to someone in the immediate parish as opposed to someone in the next parish as long as he or she is within the planning area. Those who live outside the planning area do not have their views taken into account. I have seen cases where patrons in their enthusiasm have gone way beyond the planning area and collected parental preferences which are not taken into account. It is strictly based on the preference of those living in the area specified when the call for patronage was made. It is done in accordance with the invitation.

Regarding the accommodation of the schools, my Department works closely with local authorities under the memorandum of understanding on school site acquisitions to identify suitable sites for school development. Work on the acquisition of permanent sites for the schools is under way. Subject to the necessary statutory approvals, it is my Department's intention to acquire land at Mungret which is currently in the ownership of Limerick City and County Council for the purpose of providing permanent accommodation for the new post-primary school to serve the Limerick city and environs south west area. My officials are liaising with officials in the local authority to progress this site acquisition. With respect to the new post-primary school to serve Limerick City and environs east area, my Department has requested Limerick City and County Council to assist under the memorandum of understanding with the identification and procurement of a suitable property to serve as the permanent location for the school. Officials from the local authority have identified a number of potential site options and these are now being assessed technically to establish their suitability. Once the assessment phase is completed, it is anticipated that negotiations with the relevant landowner will commence.

Major construction projects to provide the buildings for the two post-primary sites in Limerick are included in my Department's six-year construction programme scheduled to proceed to tender and construction in 2018 and 2019 to 2021, respectively. We are proceeding with due haste on this.

Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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I have two quick questions. The demographics report to which the Minister referred and which was published in 2015 specifically recommended that one school should be provided in the Mungret-Dooradoyle-Raheen area and that a second school should be provided in the greater Castletroy area. That was based on the demographics in those particular locations. It is very important that extra priority be given to the parents and pupils living in the immediate areas of those schools. That was the basis under which the building of the schools was recommended. We cannot have a situation where schools are built and pupils living in the immediate area are not given preference and priority in terms of being able to be educated in their own localities. It is very important for the Minister to look at that matter. Can the Minister indicate when he expects the announcements to be made and can he indicate when he expects both schools to open for enrolment?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Whatever was placed in the patronage advertisement, including as to the planning area, will have to be complied with. Patrons will have used that area in good faith to identify parents who would support them. I do not have the exact geographic areas, but they are centred on Mungret and Castletroy. There is no way a parent living closer to the school is given a greater priority than a parent further from the school if they are both within the area. My understanding is that all parents within the area advertised will be given equal priority. One cannot assess the wishes of parents who live outside the area. At this stage, it cannot be changed. Perhaps I can get the Senator the exact geographical area.

Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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This is critical because these schools were recommended on the basis of the increase in the number of school-going children in those particular locations. It is extremely important to factor that into the assessment.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator has made a very good point. Normally, ten minutes are allowed for a matter, but 13 have now elapsed. The Minister has given a comprehensive reply.

Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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If he has more to add, I am sure he can communicate with the Senator.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I will provide the Senator with the exact mapping as to the area within which the patronage is assessed. The issue of when the schools will open is not one on which I can give an exact date as it depends on site acquisition, design and snags in site specification. That work will proceed. There is a staged approval process whereby the Department satisfies itself at each stage that its requirements are being met. I assure the Deputy that there will be no unnecessary delay in executing on this.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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If progress has not been made early in the new year, the Senator can revisit it again.