Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the efforts being made to ensure that a school (details supplied) in County Galway is kept open until an alternative school is built; the efforts being made to plan and build such a new school; her views on whether it is reasonable for students to have to be bussed to schools in other towns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15638/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Trustees of the school referred to by the Deputies have confirmed their intention to close the school on a phased basis. As the Deputy may be aware, this school is a voluntary secondary school and the decision to withdraw as providers of education is within the remit of the Patron body, that is the Sisters of Mercy.

The Department has been informed by the Sisters of Mercy that the phased closure will commence in September 2007 with no intake of first year students and all junior cycle pupils will be given the option of proceeding to the senior cycle including the opportunity of to avail of a transition year.

The Deputy should note that the existing site and school buildings are not in the ownership of the Department. The Trustees have recently reaffirmed to the Department that the current site will not be available for the provision of post-primary education once the school closes.

Having considered the immediate implications of the decision by the Sisters of Mercy, I can confirm that my Department will facilitate the enrolment in the neighbouring Community School of students from the area in question by amending the existing catchment area. The area in question is an All-Girls Catchment Area and the boys from that area traditionally go to the neighbouring Community School where school transport is available for eligible boys.

The Government is conscious that many parts of South Galway are experiencing significant population growth and is determined to ensure sufficient school provision into the future. The question of where the expanded capacity will be located will be determined by an analysis of the pattern of population growth in the areas in terms of geographical location compared to where existing second level provision is situated.