I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 230, inclusive, together.
The decision to provide a community school in Castlerea was reached after consultation with all the local interests including the vocational education committee and the fullest consideration of all the relevant factors.
I am satisfied that the educational interests of the pupils in the Castlerea area, both short term and long term, will best be served by the proposed community school development. I have taken into account the best educational provision which should be made available given the projected enrolments in the area and having regard to the fact that all pupils, irrespective of sex, social background or ability, should have access to the widest range of subject choice feasible.
I am confident that, on completion, the community school will have the full support of all educational interests in the area — management, pupils and parents — and that it will be recognised as a facility equal to the best available anywhere in the country.
The school will be in the ownership of the Minister for Education but will be vested in trustees representative of the religious authorities and the vocational education committee. These trustees have not yet been nominated.
A local contribution equal to 10 per cent of the cost of the school will be payable — 5 per cent by the Vocational Education Committee and 5 per cent by the religious authorities involved. Since this contribution is calculated by reference to the final cost of the school, it is not possible to say, at this stage, what the total amount will be.
No compensation is payable to the existing school authorities. However, since the new school will be located at the convent site and will incorporate such of the existing convent school accommodation as is suitable for the purpose, the transfer of that property will be a matter for negotiation between the Sisters of Mercy and the Department.
The school has been designed to accommodate 675 pupils. Like all such designs it allows for ready extension should this ever be required. It is anticipated that approximately 670 pupils will enrol in the school when it is completed.
The staffing level of the school will be determined by reference to the standard applied in all community schools, i.e., a pupil-teacher ratio of 19:1 with additional posts for principal, vice-principal, etc. However, all permanent whole time teachers who were on the staffs of the two schools at the time the decision to create the community school was announced are guaranteed the right of assimilation to the staff of the new school without loss of income.
The following is the design team for the new community school: Architects — Jeffers Kearns & Associates, 27 William Street West, Galway; Quantity Surveyors — Joseph C. Hogan, 18 Clare Street, Dublin 2; Services Engineer — John Egan & Associates, 7 Bath Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin 4; Structural Engineer — Jennings and O'Donovan, Finsklin, Sligo.
