John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the amalgamation of two schools (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, in view of the fact that there is full agreement at local level; if the amalgamation will be approved in order that the administrative process can be completed while waiting on the technical reports on the sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22616/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The next step in the proposed amalgamation of the two schools, to which the Deputy refers, is for a technical assessment to be carried out on existing buildings to determine which, if any, would be suitable to act as a host for the new school.

The Deputy will be aware that on 13 January last, I outlined details of 62 schools which are being given the go ahead to proceed with major capital works such as new school building projects, extensions or refurbishment. The first key step for these schools is the appointment of the design team that will design and plan the works. Technical visits are currently being carried out on these projects as part of this process.

As soon as that series of technical visits is completed, officials in my Department will be in a position to proceed with other technical assessments such as the case of the two school sites referred to by the Deputy. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities in question when it is in a position to schedule a technical inspection of the buildings concerned.