Nora Owen
Ceist:305 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the extension to Ballyboughal national school, Ballyboughal, County Dublin. [6150/98]
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Consideration of the school's application for an extension is being processed in my Department and a report is expected shortly from my Department's inspectorate.
On receipt of this report, my Department will be in touch with the school without delay.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:306 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the recent newspaper reports regarding the possible purchase of Killashee school, Naas, County Kildare with the objective of meeting primary school accommodation requirements; the research, if any, his Department has undertaken in this matter; the outcome of the research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6152/98]
Emmet Stagg
Ceist:322 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science whether his Department is in negotiations with a view to purchasing Killashee school, County Kildare; if so, if he intends to use this school to meet the accommodation problems for primary schools in Naas, County Kildare; the meetings, if any, his officials have had with representatives of the existing local primary schools in Naas, County Kildare; the dates of these meetings; those in attendance at the meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6492/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 322 together.
I am aware of the newspaper reports regarding the Killashee private primary school, Naas, County Kildare, referred to by Deputy Durkan. This is a fee-paying school with both day and boarding pupils.
The position is that the owners have indicated their intention to withdraw from involvement in the school from the end of the current school year. They made an approach with a view to my Department purchasing the school and continuing it as a recognised primary school. My Department took account of this possibility in a major review of the immediate and longer-term primary school accommodation needs of the Naas area.
It has been decided that the acquisition of the Killashee school premises and its development as a primary school would not solve the accommodation difficulties arising in Naas. However, the need to ensure continuity of educational provision for existing pupils is being considered at present. Senior officials from my Department are due to meet with the parents of pupils in Killashee school tonight to discuss the matter.
A short-term strategy to cater for immediate requirements of the Naas area has been agreed and temporary accommodation will be provided by my Department as a matter of urgency. It has also been decided that an additional primary school will be required to meet the longer-term needs of the area. A suitable location for a new school building has been identified and this matter is being pursued locally with the owners and the local authority.
Meetings were held with the Naas inter-schools primary representative group on 4 November and 2 December 1997 and on 3 and 19 February 1998. Details of attendance at the meetings are being forwarded to the Deputy.