Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Schools Amalgamation.

Mr. Wall

I thank you, Sir, and the Minister of State for agreeing to take this important matter. The amalgamation of Scoil Mhuire and Scoil Eoin secondary schools in Athy is of vital importance to this fast growing town and its hinterland, which include Ballylinan, Ballitore and the villages of Kilmeade, Kilkea, Kilberry and Castlemietchell. The town has included in its development plan land rezoning which will permit it to double its population to approximately 12,000 people, a major part of which has already been developed. Kildare County Council and Athy UDC have in recent months erected 100 houses in the area, as has Laois County Council in the catchment area of Ballylinan, an area that has also seen a lot of private development.

The UDC has also received a number of planning applications in the past month which will see 860 houses erected by private developers in Athy within the next two years. Given these figures, it is imperative that there are no snags or undue hold-ups in relation to the amalgamation of the two schools. The worksheet in relation to this important matter was initiated in May 2000 after a number of errors and it was finalised on 15 December 2000. The revised schedule of accommodation was issued to the two schools on 19 January 2001 and was returned to the Department and acknowledged by it on 6 February 2001.

There is concern at local level that nothing has happened since. The main concern is that the Department official in charge, Mr. Pat Foxe, has retired. Will the Minister of State explain when the design team will be put in place and when can the boards of management and the school principals meet it? What is the current state of the project and the proposed timescale for completion?

There is an urgent need for this amalgamation and to develop the site to ensure the proper facilities are in place, including the provision of a gym, extra classrooms, teachers' rooms and principals' rooms. I ask the Minister to ensure that every effort is made to overcome the delays and have this important project for Athy completed.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

I thank Deputy Wall for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to respond to this matter. In 1999 my Department was notified of the intention of the trustees to explore the possibility of the amalgamation of these schools. Following consideration of the matter the planning section of the Department agreed in principle to an amalgamation of the two schools pending a technical assessment of the current accommodation of both schools. A joint committee, representative of the partners of both schools, is in place and has started a process working towards eventual amalgamation.

The planning section of the Department agreed with the respective boards of management a long-term enrolment figure of 800 pupils for the com bined school. In this regard the two schools named have jointly completed educational worksheets based on a long-term projected enrolment figure of 800 pupils. These worksheets which outline the school's curricular choice have been examined by the inspector who has prepared a schedule of overall accommodation of approximately 6,000 square metres. This schedule was submitted to the school authorities for acceptance and I am pleased to say both schools have recently accepted this schedule.

The building unit of the Department of Education and Science will arrange for the senior inspector and the technical staff to visit the schools as soon as possible, with a view to preparing a schedule of residual accommodation and a schedule of suggested future use of existing accommodation. The decision as to the location of the amalgamated school will be made in the light of the technical assessments of the buildings.