Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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489. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 534 and 535 of 20 January 2015 regarding the proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied), if she will confirm that funding will be allocated by her Department to provide these facilities, which are currently unavailable at the schools, as CEIST personnel have stated that her Department will be funding these facilities and CEIST will not be funding them; if an independent assessment of this site selection process has been carried out by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3888/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the Patron of the schools to which he refers has determined that the new amalgamated school should be located on the site and buildings of one of the schools in question. In reaching this decision, the Patron and schools had available to them an independent technical report that reviewed the curricular capacity of both school buildings and sites. Whilst deficits of accommodation in both buildings were identified, the report recommended that one of the school buildings was the location that "requires the least amount of re-modelling of the existing structure and has the potential for expansion to accommodate a combined curriculum and additional teaching spaces". The Patron has advised my Department that they accept the report's recommendation.

To support the amalgamation process, it is understood that a Steering Group is being established that will have nominees of parents, teachers and members of the Boards of Management of both schools. It is also envisaged that from September next, both schools will cooperate closely in terms of curricular provision. The Patron is continuing to engage with my Department in relation to the process including the need for additional accommodation.