In January this year, for the first time ever, I published the 2003 school building programme, full details of which are available on my Department's website. The programme is intended to consolidate the substantial progress the Government has made over the last five years in improving the physical infrastructure in schools. A total of €342.9 million is available for spending on schools in the current year and over 550 primary and post-primary schools will benefit from the programme.
Meánscoil an Leith Triúigh is a co-educational all-Irish school with a current enrolment of 79 pupils. It is currently owned by an individual who is the sole trustee. It consists mainly of temporary prefabricated accommodation in poor condition.
My Department received an application from the parent-teacher committee, the Bishop, as patron, and Castlegregory Community Council to replace the existing accommodation with a permanent new school. The owner was not party to the application. Following examination of the application, my Department's planning unit recommended the building of a new school to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 125 to 150 pupils.
The proposed building project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. It is proposed to provide a new purpose built school on a new site in Castlegregory, County Kerry. However, matters pertaining to the purchase of the site have yet to be finalised prior to the project proceeding to tender. An application to provide temporary accommodation on the proposed new site has recently been received from the board of management of the proposed new school. This matter is being examined in my Department's building unit. It will be necessary to ensure the provision of any proposed temporary accommodation on the proposed new site will not hamper the provision of the new school in due course.