Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I acknowledge and congratulate the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and, more importantly, the Minister for Education, on the work that has been done on the challenges that Covid-19 has presented in our schools over the past number of months. I also acknowledge and congratulate the Department of Education on the provision of school accommodation in the general Galway area over the past ten years. We have a proud record in respect of schools such as Merlin College, Merlin Woods Primary School, Gaelscoil de hÍde, Coláiste na Coiribe, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh and the new schools in Clifden, Oughterard, Na Forbacha, Claregalway and Lackagh. There has been considerable investment over the past ten years.

There are a number of schools that still have challenges. Scoil Chaitríona, Renmore, has been seeking a new school building for a number of years to no avail. It is a co-educational primary school divided into junior primary and senior primary schools, taking in pupils from a large area to the east of Galway city. The present school buildings were opened in the early 1970s and approach being 50 years old. They are well past their sell-by date and urgently need replacing. The school caters for almost 800 pupils and approximately 70 staff. The present building is single storey with an unusual design where many classroom doors open directly onto a school yard area. That poses issues regarding heat retention, security of the building when the school is off, movement of children during the day etc. Any 50-year-old building has issues but our school buildings should reflect the pride and importance that we place on the next generation and the buildings in Renmore do not do that.

It is not for the want of trying on behalf of the staff, board of management, parents, school community and all politicians in the constituency. I welcome Senator Crowe here today in that regard. They have campaigned long and hard for what they need and deserve, but progress is stubbornly slow. The crunch issue seems to be that the available site may be too small. At present, the school is a single-storey building and caters for 800 pupils. A new school, most like a two-storey building, would take up a smaller footprint. There may be logistical issues in terms of the construction but I am sure they could easily be dealt with. The availability of green space is not an issue. The school is located immediately adjacent to a large green area owned and maintained by Galway City Council. The school has been assured by the council that an agreement can be put in place allowing access to this green space during school hours.

This is a long-running saga which needs a solution. Children who started in the junior school have moved through the system and still no progress has been made. Pupils everywhere deserve the best facilities to get the best start in life. Staff also deserve a decent place of work. As we are raising this matter in the Seanad, I note that Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, a former Senator, was a part of the original staff in the school when it was founded, although she certainly has since gone on to greater things. That goes to show a connection with this House and the length of time since that school was built.

I visited the school and met the then principal and chairperson of the board of management. Their commitment to their school and pupils is 100% and they deserve better facilities in return.

I welcome the fact that the senior Minister has come into the House. I acknowledge that. I understand that she has organised a meeting with all Oireachtas Members and I look forward to that. I originally put down this Commencement matter last Friday and was not aware that a meeting was in the offing. I certainly welcome that and look forward to working with the Minister and all Members of the Oireachtas to ensure that we get progress on Scoil Chaitríona, Renmore.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for his generous remarks about the work of the Department of Education and how the challenges of Covid-19 are being managed. He also acknowledged how those challenges are being managed on the ground by school communities and I also wish to express my own sincere thanks in that regard. The ongoing work is a challenge that is being met on a daily basis with the immense generosity and determination of school communities.

The Senator also acknowledged the provision of accommodation in the area over a long number of years. I thank him for raising this specific matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the position in relation to the provision of new school buildings for Scoil Chaitríona junior and senior schools, Renmore, County Galway. Scoil Chaitríona junior school caters for boys and girls from junior infants to second class. The school had an enrolment of 392 pupils for the 2019-20 school year. Its staffing allocation for the current school year includes a principal, 19 mainstream class teaching posts, including four disadvantaged over-quota posts, eight special education teaching posts, one shared special education teaching post, four special class teaching posts and two language support teaching posts.

Scoil Chaitríona senior school caters for boys and girls from third class to sixth class. The school had an enrolment of 378 pupils for the 2019-20 school year. Its staffing allocation for the current school year includes a principal, 15 mainstream teaching posts, eight special education teaching posts, 1.02 shared special education teaching posts, three special class teaching posts and one shared home school liaison post. Both schools operate under the patronage of the Bishop of Galway.

As the Senator is aware, building projects for Scoil Chaitríona junior and senior schools are included in my Department's school building programme to be delivered under the national development plan. The options for providing new school buildings for the schools are currently being explored. There are particular challenges to overcome in view of the size of the existing school site. I acknowledge that and the Senator has referenced that point.

The Department requested the patron to explore the potential availability of alternative site options, including a request to engage with Galway City Council regarding any potential land within council ownership. The patron subsequently advised the Department that no alternative sites were available. The Department subsequently met patron representatives and both school authorities to consider a way forward. The school authorities committed to exploring any options that may be available to decant the schools to facilitate a building project. A proposed decant option was recently proposed by the school.

My Department is anxious to advance the building projects for the schools into the architectural planning process. However, the complexities associated with the existing site need to be resolved and the Department is currently exploring the options available in an expeditious manner. I appreciate that this is a priority for the Senator and all Oireachtas Members. I assure the Senator of the Department's co-operation in expediting the matter as soon as possible.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. I am aware that there has been engagement between the board of management, the patron and the Department over a number of years. As the Minister rightly says, the issue around the site is the principal concern. To reiterate, Mr. Brendan McGrath, CEO of Galway City Council, has outlined that the council is willing to engage with the school patron about the use of a green space across the road from the existing school site. It is a quiet and safe road so I do not believe there will be an issue. That would solve the problem and allow for the existing site to be used. As I said, no other site has been identified. There is an option and a solution. I hope that the Minister will be able to expedite matters in conjunction with the Oireachtas Members in the area and I am sure she will.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I confirm that I appreciate the Senator raising this issue because it has given me an opportunity to outline the determination of the Department to advance this project. I assure him that the Department will continue to work with the patron and the school authorities on advancing this matter. As the Senator earlier outlined, the priority that is being given to this project is underlined by the fact that there will be a meeting between Oireachtas Members and officials of the Department next week. I have every confidence that meeting will be helpful in progressing the matter. It is a priority and we will expedite it as quickly as we can.