Vol. 481 No. 1
257 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress, if any, there has been in relation to the proposed amalgamation of three schools (details supplied) in County Roscommon in view of an acknowledgement (details supplied) from his Department. [15555/97]
: There are at present three post-primary schools in the area of County Roscommon referred to by the Deputy. These schools are to be amalgamated by agreement into a single school, which will be a community college under the aegis of Roscommon Vocational Education Committee.
Implementation of the amalgamation will take place when the building project for the new school is completed. In this regard, the post-primary Minister for Public Ebuilding section of my Department recently approved Stage 1 of the architectural planning, i.e. site suitability briefing and site report. Receipt of the outline sketch scheme is now awaited from County Roscommon Vocational Education Committee.
A proposed Memorandum of Agreement for the new community college has been drawn up by a working group comprising representatives of the relevant teacher unions, parent bodies and trustees of the three schools involved. The draft document is being examined in my Department at present and the working group will be contacted in the matter as soon as possible.
258 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the current position on the proposed extension to St. Mary's College, Naas, County Kildare; if every effort will be made to ensure an early completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15592/97]
: The proposed extension to St. Mary's College, Naas, County Kildare is currently at Stage III of architectural planning, developed sketch scheme. My Department's technical staff are finalising their examination of this documentation. When this examination has been completed, the school authorities will be contacted so that the remaining stages of architectural planning can be proceeded with.
Every effort will be made to advance this project through the planning process as quickly as possible.
