Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2009
430 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the discussions between his Department and the Sisters of Mercy in relation to obtaining a new site for the proposed amalgamation of two schools in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45509/09]
View answerIn 2004, agreement was reached to amalgamate the two primary schools in County Tipperary referred to by the Deputy. The application was assessed and the project was assigned a band rating of 1.4.
A technical inspection was carried out in 2006 on the existing school buildings to determine which would be suitable to facilitate the amalgamated school. The report produced following this inspection concluded that the most suitable building to facilitate the amalgamation would be the girls' school and also that an additional portion of land be acquired from the Sisters of Mercy to facilitate the development.
The Sisters of Mercy have indicated that they would, in principle, be disposed to selling the current school site and additional lands to the rear of the school to facilitate the proposed works.
The progression of this building project and the acquisition of the additional land required to facilitate the amalgamation, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.
However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.
