Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In light of increases in population in the South Galway area and the decision of the Sisters of Mercy to close Seamount College, Kinvara, on a phased basis, I determined that a new post primary school would be required in the South Galway area. Accordingly, I asked the Commission on School Accommodation to conduct a survey of school accommodation in the area to determine the location of the proposed post primary school and to identify other locations where additional school places may be required over the next five to ten years.

The Commission published its report in January 2008 which recommended that a co-educational post primary school for circa 800 students should be provided in the northern environs of Kinvara. When a new school has been approved a number of procedures/processes must be undertaken and these can take some time to complete. The main stages are the identification and acquisition of a suitable site, design of the building, application/granting of planning permission, invitation to seek tenders and construction.

The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is being requested to source a suitable site for the school in question. The further progression of the proposed project for the school will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.