asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the long negotiations which took place between the Office of Public Works and the vocational education committee and the co-operation received from the Civil Service GAA Club in regard to the use of their pitch in connection with the proposal to build a vocational school at Islandbridge, Dublin, he will state why this proposal has now been abandoned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Vocational School Proposal.
39.
Mr. R. Burke
A proposal from the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee to provide a new vocational school in Islandbridge was examined in the context of the development of existing schools already catering for the area. This examination showed that the provision of a further second level school to cater for the area was not warranted.
Is it now the policy of the vocational education committee apparently not to erect more vocational schools in the city but only in the county area?
Mr. R. Burke
I am not aware that that is the policy of the Dublin City Vocational Education Committee.
There seems to have been a change since there was a change of executive officer and a change of Government in their attitude in regard to this school. I know that the people not only of Ballyfermot but of Inchicore, Bluebell and all around that area were looking forward to its erection so that they would not have to go into the centre of the city to advance their studies. Bolton Street and all the other schools are overcrowded.
Mr. R. Burke
In regard to this area the difficulty is that the only proposal received from the VEC in regard to this site related to the provision of playing fields and dressing rooms and these were treated in the same way by the Department at that time as they still treat applications for sport halls, gymnasia and so on. The difficulty arises from the fact that the Department are not in possession of any firm planning proposals in respect of the area and that particular site.
The people are very disappointed about this.