John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 592 of 2 November 2005, if she will arrange a technical inspection of the schools in question; if she will expedite the proposal to amalgamate the two schools; if the planning unit will play a proactive role in the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38670/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Pursuit of the proposed amalgamation by the trustees-patron of the schools to which the Deputy refers is a relatively recent development. Notwithstanding this, my Department has progressed matters to the point where an accommodation solution can be established. As previously indicated, as a matter of course in amalgamation scenarios, technical inspections are carried out on existing buildings to determine which, if any, would be suitable to act as a host for the new school. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities in question when, in the context of competing priorities, it is in a position to schedule a technical inspection of the buildings concerned.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38671/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The patron of the schools referred to by the Deputy has advised my Department of the agreement to amalgamate the two schools. The provision of a new school building on a new site to house the amalgamated school has been sought. As the Deputy will appreciate, in the interest of obtaining best value for money, my Department must give due consideration to the possibility of utilising one of the existing buildings before pursuing a greenfield site option. To inform this decision, a technical inspection of both existing school sites and buildings will be undertaken by my Department to establish which, if either, building would be suitable as a host for an amalgamated school. Officials will be in contact with the school authorities when a date is confirmed for the technical assessment. Any building project required to facilitate the proposed amalgamation will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2005-09.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38672/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The schools referred to by the Deputy have made an application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school on a new site being provided by the parish to facilitate amalgamation. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2005-09.