Seamus Healy
Question:475 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14305/05]
View answerWednesday, 4 May 2005
Questions (448)
Written answers
The school planning section of my Department is assessing the rationalisation of national schools in County Tipperary, which includes the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department has requested the local inspector to provide long-term projections for both schools to establish the extent of accommodation which will be needed to facilitate the amalgamation. In addition, a technical inspection has been carried out on the existing buildings to determine which, if either, would be suitable to act as a host for the new school. A greenfield site solution will be necessary if a host does not emerge. The technical report will be available in my Department shortly.
In the meantime, the project has been assessed in accordance with the agreed prioritisation criteria for large-scale projects and it has been assigned a band 1.4 rating, that is, rationalisation. It will be considered for commencement of architectural planning when the various strands have been pulled together in terms of the long-term projected enrolment and a proposed accommodation solution.