Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a commitment with the amalgamation of three primary schools in Tuam, County Galway, has not been agreed by 1 September 2019, if DEIS band 1 status will be denied for the new school entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25002/19]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if DEIS band 1 status can still be granted to the new single primary school in Tuam, County Galway, after 1 September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25003/19]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if DEIS Band 1 status cannot be granted to the new single primary school in (details supplied) after 1 September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25004/19]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if DEIS band 1 status currently held cannot be revoked or withdrawn in the event of a full amalgamation not being complete by 1 September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25005/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 176, inclusive, together.

My Department’s position, taking into account the current DEIS status of the individual schools, is that on amalgamation, the newly amalgamated school will be granted DEIS Band 1 status.

In terms of future DEIS designation, the amalgamated school will be assessed on the same basis as every other school in the country with resources being allocated accordingly. Any changes in identification methodology applied to DEIS schools nationally will apply to the amalgamated school.

Officials from my Department have been in correspondence with the relevant stakeholders and have met with the person appointed by the Patron to co-ordinate the amalgamation process along with other representatives of the Diocese, to confirm the position in relation to DEIS status.

If for some reason the amalgamation does not proceed, it is important that the schools contact my Department to reverse the process.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he or his predecessors have made direct contact by phone to a person (details supplied) concerning the amalgamation of three Catholic primary schools; if so, the nature and content of the communication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25006/19]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the directions with time limits given to the representatives of an archdiocese (details supplied) concerning the amalgamation of three Catholic primary schools and the creation of a single new school entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25007/19]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a design team has been appointed for a proposed Roman Catholic primary school in Tuam, County Galway; if so, the person or body; when they were appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25008/19]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funds have been allocated in capital budgets or otherwise for the construction of the new proposed Roman Catholic primary school in Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25009/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 180, inclusive, together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that neither I nor my predecessor made direct contact with the person in question.

I can confirm to the Deputy that the Patron of the amalgamated schools advised my Department in writing that the three catholic primary schools in question were amalgamating on the 1^stSeptember 2019. My Department is currently working on the accommodation brief for the new school building in consultation with the school authority based on staffing schedules for the amalgamated schools.

Given my the Department’s experience and assuming no significant issues arise during the project such as delay at planning permission stage it is reasonable to target 2022 for the commencement of the construction phase for the project.