Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date on the new school proposed for Claregalway, County Galway; if a patron for the school has been agreed upon; if a site has been identified for the new school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34766/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011 I announced that 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. This announcement included for the provision of a new post-primary school in Claregalway, County Galway to commence operation in September 2013. The New Schools Establishment Group has recently submitted its report to me on the assessment of the applications received for patronage of new second level schools to be established in 2013 and 2014. I am currently considering this report and I hope to be in a position shortly to announce my decisions on the patronage of the new schools to be established.

My Department is working closely with the relevant Local Authority in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the proposed school referred to by the Deputy. My Department is now considering what options are available locally to allow the school to commence operation, pending the delivery of a permanent accommodation solution. In relation to the permanent site, a number of site assessments have been carried out to date which did lead to discussions with a number of land owners. However, due to commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further in relation to the site acquisition process at this time.