In the context of school provision in the Lisdoonvarna and Ennistymon areas, my Department has decided that, on balance, a school should be allowed to continue in its own right in Lisdoonvarna, even though there are grounds for actively considering consolidation with Ennistymon. The request to replace the existing facilities in Lisdoonvarna will be considered by my Department under normal value for money and prioritisation criteria.
In order to ensure that it is fully informed, my Department issued an educational worksheet to the school authority on 11 June 2001 for completion, based on a long-term projected enrolment figure of 250. On receipt of this completed form, my Department's building unit will be in a position to draw up a schedule of accommodation for agreement with the school authority, which will form the basis of further consideration of the request for new accommodation.