The Mullingar catchment area is currently served by 21 primary schools including a gaelscoil and a new multi-denominational school which commenced operation last September.
Excluding the gaelscoil, which has developed to an eight teacher school, as expected, and the new multi-denominational school which is currently developing, the total number of extra primary school pupils which came on stream in the Mullingar catchment area between the school years 1999-2000 and 2003-04 is 190. At current pupil-teacher ratios, this equates to approximately an extra 6.5 class groups. While this would have a significant impact on a single school, it is not unreasonable to expect that 19 schools could, between them, cater for this number.
In recent years my Department has provided temporary accommodation in a number of primary schools in the area to ease pressure. This includes extra provision at two schools which, between them, are catering for almost 100 of the 190 extra pupils referred to earlier. Two other schools received funding under the new devolved initiatives to improve accommodation. It is important to understand that many parents, when enrolling pupils, do so in a number of schools. This can have the effect of distorting pre-enrolment lists and creating the impression that there is a shortage of places. In addition some parents may be disappointed in not obtaining a school of first choice. This can also be interpreted as representing a shortage of places. However, my Department's role in any given area is to ensure that schools can between them cater for the number of pupils presenting and I am satisfied that this is the case currently in Mullingar. In this regard, while I note that there is pressure on some schools for places, the enrolment in one school, in particular, in the town centre has declined by 50 pupils in the past five years. Furthermore, in the Mullingar town plan for 2002-2008, the local authority specifically states "the existing school infrastructure is considered to be of a capacity to meet the needs of the school-going population over the period of the plan".
Notwithstanding this, I accept that Mullingar is a developing town and a considerable population increase is projected in the coming years. I am taking a number of steps to ensure its future needs are met in a timely fashion. First, a number of extension projects at both primary and post primary level will progress under the school building programme from 2005 onwards. Second, the possible extension of the gaelscoil to 16 classrooms to provide an extra 240 pupil places is under consideration together with the development of the new multi-denominational school to 16 classrooms providing yet another 480 pupil places. Third, a senior Department inspector recently visited all primary schools in the area and his findings will form part of an in depth analysis of both primary and post primary infrastructural provision in Mullingar which will be carried out early in the new year. This analysis will include discussions with the local authority.
