The Minister for Education made a little bit of history when, in a significant policy shift on multi-denominational schooling, he agreed last year to buy a site for the Galway School Project.
Mr Martin was acting on a recommendation from his Department's school accommodation commission to the effect that new multi-denominational schools should be treated in the same way as Gaelscoileanna - that the State should buy sites for them and provide 100 per cent capital funding.
The Galway School Project's executive committee was delighted, as was the Educate Together organisation, representing the State's 16 multi-denominational schools. A site had already been earmarked for the 128-pupil school in Newcastle, valued at £250,000.
More than a year later, the school has grown to 160 pupils and is expected to increase to 180 in September. Six teachers are still working out of temporary rented premises in Corrib Village, which were built as student accommodation for NUI Galway.
A spokesman for the Department of Education told The Irish Times the Minister is committed to purchasing a site, but the process took time. Negotiations are still continuing with the Department of Finance and Galway Corporation has been contacted with a view to a specific location, the spokesman said.
The school project is holding a public meeting on Monday next at 9 p.m. on its premises in Corrib Village, Newcastle Road, to highlight the situation. It has invited TDs, councillors and members of the public.
Last month, meanwhile, the Western Health Board published an introduction to pre-school services, which outlined its policies and guidelines on childcare on foot of the Child Care Act. However, at a recent meeting of health board, Councillor Donal Lyons said many creches were having to reduce numbers and to increase fees, to fulfil the regulations.
Fees were being increased by as much as £30 a week in some cases and Mr Lyons warned of a black market in unregulated facilities developing. Dr Sheelah Ryan, the health board's chief executive, said overcrowding was the main difficulty.
The Galway branch of the National Children's Nurseries' Asso ciation is holding a public meeting on the issue tonight in the Salthill Hotel at 8.30 p.m., and both public representatives and concerned parents have been invited to attend.
The Introduction to Pre-School Services: Child Care Policies and Guidelines, published by the Western Health Board, the Irish Pre-School Playgroups Association and Comhchoiste Reamh scholaiochta, is available from the board at 25 Newcastle Road, Galway, tel (091) 523122.