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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Mar 1969

Vol. 239 No. 5

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin School.

64.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the concern of the Dún Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee at the proposal to erect a comprehensive school at Sallynoggin, County Dublin, in view of the existing vocational school there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In view of the large growth in the number of children to be catered for in this area it was considered necessary that two schools be built in Sallynoggin. My proposals envisage a new secondary school to cater for the girls and the extension of the vocational school to cater for the boys. Both schools will have a comprehensive curriculum.

A senior officer of my Department attended a meeting of the Dún Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee on 10th March and explained the position in full. Three members of the Vocational Education Committee will attend a meeting of the Dublin Advisory Council for Post-Primary Education to be held on 27th March, 1969, at which the question of the actual accommodation to be provided in the area will be discussed.

In view of the increasing population in that area, the number of existing schools and the different types of schools, perhaps, the Minister would ensure that all aspects of the question would be taken into consideration? One of the criticisms which the Vocational Education Committee have expressed is that they applied as far back as 1967 for an indication of what was being done and up to quite recently they proceeded in the absence of any reply from the Minister. Perhaps, the Minister will ensure that the position in Sallynoggin, Monkstown and Killiney will be taken into account as well as the proposed technical school at Clonkeen, Deansgrange.

I agree with much of what Deputy Cosgrave suggests. We are having several conferences within the next few days to deal with the Sallynoggin problem. Then there will be further problems in the other areas the Deputy has mentioned. One thing I want to emphasise here is that there must be co-operation between the vocational committee and the secondary school projects because we cannot have each going on his own without co-operation. The co-operation aspect is what we are trying to achieve to ensure that there is a comprehensive curriculum available in those areas and that we do not have one section going ahead with a project and not providing the full curriculum for the children.

There would be no disagreement on that aspect of the matter. As the situation has developed in this area one school at Monkstown proposes to eliminate a portion of its existing facilities and the Killiney authorities are doing the reverse. The vocational school at Sallynoggin already has facilities for girls but under the new proposal there is the prospect that the girls' section may be closed down. In addition, there are extensions at Dún Laoghaire and Blackrock vocational schools. Perhaps, all those aspects will be taken into account.

They will be. I appreciate fully what the Deputy has in mind.

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