Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will visit schools (details supplied) in County Clare to be amalgamated to see what students have to endure every day or if he will meet with a delegation from the three schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29443/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The three post primary schools in Ennistymon have agreed to amalgamate on delivery of a new school building. This project will require additional land in order for it to progress any further.

In that regard, the Oireachtas enacted the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act in 2012 and Section 42 of this Act which sets out provisions relating to the charitable status of contributions by Congregations was commenced in March 2013.

The recent commencement of Section 42 will facilitate the transfers of properties to the Minister for Education and Skills such as in the case of the school project, referred to by the Deputy.

The Congregation that owns the property concerned has offered to transfer it to the State as part of its offer of a number of properties made in response to the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report). The Government has agreed to accept this and a number of other properties offered and my Department through the Chief State Solicitor's Office is currently working on finalising the transfer of the property in question.

When the transfer of the property has been completed, my Department will be in a position to further consider how this project could be progressed within the context of the available funding.