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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2007

Vol. 185 No. 20

Adjournment Matters.

School Closures.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this item for debate this evening. I wish to share the matter with Senator Kitt.

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Treacy, to the House. He has a personal interest in this item. The Minister of State is aware that since Senator Kitt and I first raised this matter here on 18 October 2006, the Minister for Education and Science and the Department have made very little progress in determining what can be done for Kinvara. The parents and management board, and all concerned in the south Galway community have made a submission to the Department of Education and Science and the Minister asking for the continuation of second level education in Kinvara rather than the closure of a school. While the Minister and Department did not close the school, the ball is in the Minister's and Government's court to deliver second level education and not to allow the crisis to develop in south Galway that will follow the closure of this long-standing and esteemed school.

The Minister and the Department received a full and comprehensive report about Kinvara which has been well documented. It is unfair on all involved, parents, staff and students in the Kinvara area to be left in limbo because no decisions have been taken. The review has, we believe, been undertaken and hopefully is on the Minister's desk. It now behoves all to make a decision that there will be second level education in Kinvara. It is a growth area. How is it that the recent national development plan promises large expenditure on roads, rail services, water and sewage systems and so on yet we are closing a school in South Galway? The Minister of State, as a representative of that constituency, has an obligation to nail his colours to the mast and say this cannot happen. The Minister for Health and Children approached the Minister for Education and Science for a school in her constituency and it was delivered immediately. That is what we expect from the Minister of State.

How can a Minister for Education and Science preside over the dissolution of the board of management for a viable working school in Kinvara? The board was dissolved when it was due for renewal. I cannot understand how the Minister allows the school to continue to function without a board of management. It is urgent that she reinstate a board or provides for one to be elected.

On 7 December 2006 I wrote to the Minister for Education and Science asking her as an interim step to lease the facilities from the Sisters of Mercy at a reasonably attractive rate to ensure continuity of intake in September of this year. I was a member of a deputation which included the Minister of State and members of the local community, of the staff and board of management, and parents. I have received only an acknowledgement of the letter but not the reply which was promised although this proposal could be a useful solution.

The Minister of State knows the people of the area as well as I do. They want continuity of intake in Kinvara September so that there will be no gap in education provision. The surrounding schools in Gort and Callasanctius do not have the space to take in the students from Kinvara if the school there closes. They have applied to the Department over the past three or four years for extensions which have not been granted. This is one of the biggest growth areas in the country, as the Minister of State is aware. In Ballindereen, where there is a school catchment area, there is 48% growth which is accelerating. That is only one figure. I ask the Minister of State as a representative of the constituency to make the proper representations to the Minister to ensure that an early solution to this problem.

I appreciate that the Cathaoirleach has allowed me to raise this issue because it is unique for him to allow two Members from one constituency to raise a common issue. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, who is the most important man in our constituency, for coming into the House.

That puts it up to him.

He will deliver.

We held a meeting with the Minister for Education and Science on budget day, 6 December last, with parents, teachers, and public representatives from Galway and Clare because this problem affects north Clare too. I wish to raise a slightly different point from that raised by Senator Ulick Burke. We brought what I believe was new information to the Minister that day. I would like the report to be made available as quickly as possible. There is a significant increase in population in this area as census figures for housing development there indicate. There is no space for these students in the Callasanctius college in Oranmore or in Gort community school. The Minister for Education and Science and her Department have a responsibility to find places for students if there is no intake for them in Kinvara next September.

Any information provided to the Department is fact. There has been no attempt to pillory the Sisters of Mercy or to blame the Minister or the Department for what has happened. A diplomatic mission is required to try to get the college to agree to take in first year students next September, or to have the college leased or, better still, sold to the Department if that were possible. This college has a fine track record and has won many awards and its transition year has started.

I hope education will be very much to the forefront in the national development plan and in the context of any investment that is made. The part of south Galway to which I refer is badly in need of investment in education, which is clearly evident in primary schools in Kinvara and the surrounding areas.

A public meeting is to take place in Kinvara on Friday next. The people that will attend would like answers to the questions we have raised. I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House and I hope he will be able to provide an update on what is happening in respect of this school.

I thank Senators Kitt and Ulick Burke for raising this matter. I welcome the opportunity to outline the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding the provision of post-primary education in Kinvara, County Galway. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who is out of the country on official business.

In October 2006, the trustees of Seamount College, namely, the Sisters of Mercy, announced their intention to withdraw as providers of education in the Kinvara area and to close the college. Seamount College is a voluntary secondary school and decisions such as this are within the remit of the patron body, the Mercy Sisters. The trustees informed the Department of Education and Science that closure was to be on a phased basis, with no intake of first year pupils from September 2007, culminating in a full closure in 2012 and thus allowing the junior students to have a transition year, if feasible, and complete their leaving certificates thereafter. The trustees also confirmed directly to the Department that the current site at Seamount College will not be available for the provision of post-primary education once the college closes after 2012.

Following the announcement of a phased closure by the trustees, a group of local parents met the Minister and representatives of the Department of Education and Science and outlined their concerns. Officials of the school planning section of the Department also met separately with representatives of Gort community school who outlined their concerns in relation to the trustees' announcement.

The Department's main role in respect of a decision by a patron body to close a school is to ensure that the best interests of the pupils are catered for in the period leading up to the closure and that there will be sufficient places in existing schools in the general area for pupils who would have normally enrolled in the closing school.

The examination of the information received is currently under way in the Department of Education and Science. As part of this examination, an analysis is being carried out on matters such as population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the immediate demand for pupil accommodation. I assure the House that it is being dealt with as a priority matter by officials in the Department at the direction of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin.

This is a complex matter and it can be resolved only by flexibility on all sides. In particular, the Mercy order has made a unique contribution to the development of education for over a century, including in the Kinvara region. I publicly appeal to the order on behalf of the students, teachers and parents in the wider Kinvara area to ensure the necessary space and time is provided to ensure that second level education remains a permanent and integral part of the community there for the century ahead.

I again sincerely thank Senators Kitt and Burke once again for raising this matter in respect of our constituency.

The Minister of State said that there will be "sufficient places in existing schools in the general area for pupils who would have normally enrolled in the closing school". This clearly means the Department has effectively washed its hands of the matter.

I made a complete statement on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science but the Senator selected a part of a sentence relating to the analysis being carried out by officials of her Department. Carrying out such analysis has been standard procedure since the Department was first founded and it is the responsibility of those involved to provide the Minister with a complete picture in due course. We must await the outcome that emerges when everything has been considered; no more and no less.

It is an indictment of the Government's failure.

The Senator should not misinterpret what I said.

Schools Building Projects.

I thank the Minister of State for taking this motion, the purpose of which is to highlight need for the provision of an update on the status of the application by Scoil Etchen, Kinnegad, County Westmeath, for a proposed building project, which is urgently required to facilitate the demand for places at the school caused by the increased population levels in the Kinnegad area. Everyone who has moved into the area is welcome to the constituency.

Kinnegad is a rapidly expanding area, with a population that has more than doubled, from 652 in 1996 to 1,429 according to the 2002 census — it is still rising — as a result of increasing pressure for housing in the area from Dublin commuters. Housing estates are springing up to accommodate the increasing overspill from Dublin and because those houses are primarily occupied by families, there is a much great demand for school places than was the case ten or even five years ago.

St. Etchen's is the main provider of primary education in the area and urgently needs to commence a building programme for extra classroom and other facilities. I understand that two extra prefabs have been approved for the school by the Department but it is essential to the continued expansion of the enrolment at the school that more substantial and long-term accommodation be provided. The parents and board of management want a substantial and new school building to be provided.

The building programme for this school has been the subject of questions in both Houses of the Oireachtas since the early architectural stage was initiated in 2002, when more than 200 people were accommodated in prefabs. It is now 2007 and the school is still awaiting suitable accommodation. That is not good enough at a time when successive Ministers state the country is awash with money. There is a great deal of annoyance in this and other areas in my constituency regarding the lack of school facilities for primary and post-primary students.

The school authorities are anxiously awaiting approval of stage 3 documentation — detailed drawings, cost plan and reports — which were submitted to the Department in April 2006 in order to seek planning permission and to bring the project to tender and construction, as a matter of urgency.

I have been engaged in networking and canvassing in the area in question and every person to whom I spoke referred to the lack of places in the school in question. I urge the Minister of State to do whatever is in his power to ensure that the project is delivered on. Perhaps I might be in a position to deliver good news to the people on Kinnegad as I return home this evening.

I admire Senator Bannon's enthusiasm in the context of his already being out knocking on doors. I have been Member of the Houses for almost 25 years and I have yet to knock at a door before an election was called. I hope he is not too early.

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the position of the Department of Science regarding Scoil Etchen, Kinnegad, County Westmeath. In 2005 the Department of Education and Science announced details of 89 primary schools and 33 post primary schools that were allowed to progress to tender and construction. St. Etchen's, Kinnegad, was among the primary schools listed in the announcement.

In February 2005 representatives of the school attended a meeting in Tullamore organised by the building unit of the Department, which outlined the steps that a school should take to advance a building project through tender and construction phases. In September 2005 the Department received a stage 3 — developed sketch scheme — of architectural planning from the school authorities. The brief for the project is to provide adequate accommodation for a principal and 16 classroom teachers. This involves the construction of eight additional classrooms and ancillary accommodation, plus upgrading works to the existing school.

In November 2005 a letter issued from the building unit to the board of management of the school requesting a revised stage 3 submission. A revised submission was received in March 2006. At the end of that month, a further letter issued to the board of management requesting detailed information in relation to the mechanical and electrical element of the stage 3 submission. A response was received from the school in April 2006.

In July 2006, following a comprehensive examination of the revised stage 3 documentation, the building unit issued a further letter to the board of management requesting additional information in relation to a number of matters. A response was received in late October 2006 and was examined by the Department. A meeting was held on Monday, 5 February 2007 between officials of the Department of Education and Science and the school authorities and their design team to try and resolve any remaining difficulties with the stage 3 submission. As a result of this meeting, further information must be supplied to the Department by the school and its design team on or before Tuesday, 20 March 2007.

Once the stage 3 submission is approved by the Department, the school will be given devolved authority to seek planning permission, prepare tender documentation and, finally, invite tenders.

I assure Senator Bannon that the Department of Education and Science is committed to providing suitable high quality accommodation for Scoil Etchen at the earliest possible date. I again thank him for raising this matter.

I hope after 20 March 2007 everything will be ready to roll.

I think the Senator is right about 20 May as well, and the day after that also.

I have every confidence in the board of management. We will forward any outstanding recommendations to the Minister of State. I hope the Department will not be found wanting in delivering this project.

Biodiversity Conservation.

I am glad to welcome to the House my old St. Brendan's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. He is aware of my interest in these matters.

I understand a range of different species, including primarily the Kerry spotted slug, whales, bats, otters, the natterjack toad, the pine martin, the red squirrel and others are under threat. It should be said, however, and I have noted this, that the endangered pine martin thrives in Killarney, as does the natterjack toad, in Dooks and Castlegregory, both on and off the golf courses. Some people thought they would be threatened by those beautiful courses, which are played on frequently by many visitors, but they have thrived. I am glad of that.

The concern is that while many of these species are unique to this country, they are now believed to be under pressure. The allegation is that they were not properly protected under old legislation and newer laws were not properly implemented, putting them at risk. That is my understanding. The European Court of Justice has ruled that Ireland has not been protecting its wildlife and habitats and, accordingly, I look forward to the Minister of State's response. I further understand the ruling was comprehensive in nature and I look forward to the Minister spelling out the consequences. I confess I have not seen the judgment but I look forward to hearing the Minister's view on it.

What, if any, monitoring system is in place regarding the various species alleged to be at risk and their breeding grounds? I understand there are some action plans in place covering the Irish hare and some other species. I look forward to hearing what further plans, if any, the Minister has in that regard.

I thank Senator Coghlan for raising what is an important matter to those of us in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

As a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ireland published a national biodiversity plan in 2002 containing 91 actions aimed at securing the conservation, sustainable use and enhancement of biodiversity in Ireland. A key concept of the plan is that we all share responsibility for biodiversity, that it crosses into a number of Departments and that it needs cross-Border co-operation. I am happy to tell the House that an interim review of its implementation was carried out in 2005 and demonstrated that excellent progress had been made.

In January this year, my Department launched a public awareness campaign on biodiversity, entitled Notice Nature, to raise awareness of biodiversity issues among the general public and within the agriculture, tourism and construction sectors. It will promote action for the conservation of biodiversity. The campaign is also accompanied by a dedicated website, www.noticenature.ie, which gives information on biodiversity, the legislation, the policy governing biodiversity and, more importantly, the actions individuals and organisations can take that can assist in conserving biodiversity.

The national biodiversity plan specifically recognised the need for action to protect species of particular conservation concern. Four all-Ireland species action plans were published jointly with the Northern Ireland authorities in November 2005. Three more all-Ireland draft species action plans are in the process of interdepartmental consultation and these will be published during the course of 2007. Further plans are being prepared to cover other species such as the Kerry slug. It is intended that these also will be published in 2007.

The Irish hare action plan, for instance, identified the need for baseline data on the hare. The Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service is in the second year of a national survey with the final report due in July 2007. This will include a full assessment of the conservation status of both the Irish hare and the brown hare in Ireland.

My Department has also established a national bat monitoring programme, if Senators will forgive the pun. Five of the bat species found in Ireland are now covered under this annual programme. Additional surveys planned for 2007 will bring in the remaining species.

This work, along with additional proposals regarding marine species, will ensure Ireland meets the concerns raised in the ruling of the European Court in January of this year. My Department is committed to this area.

Will the Minister of State confirm his first course of action will include the lesser horseshoe bat, which is so prevalent in my part of the country? I welcome the Minister's response and look forward to the surveys in 2007. Does the website the Minister mentioned contain the full judgment of the European Court and, if not, where would one obtain that?

My understanding, which I will confirm for the Senator, is that it contains the main rulings of the European Court. If there is any deficiency in terms of the information the Senator requires, my Department will be only too happy to supply it to him.

I thank the Minister of State.

The Seanad adjourned at 8.40 p.m. until10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 7 February 2007.
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