asked the Minister for Education if he will agree, as a matter of urgency, to appoint a board of management for the proposed post-primary school in Portmarnock, County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin School.
22.
The date of commencement of operation of the proposed post-primary school in Portmarnock has not yet been decided but it is not likely to be before 1979. In the circumstances, it would be premature to set up a board of management at this stage.
The Minister says it will be 1979. Is he aware that by September, 1977 there will be nowhere for the children in this area because the Malahide Community School will be unable to take extra pupils by that time?
We have undertaken discussions with a number of interested groups in that area and we have decided that it should commence around 1979, taking all the projections into account.
Will the Minister say if it is the view of the people of Portmarnock, or is the date due to a decision of the Minister? The people of the area have asked for the accommodation to be provided by 1977.
My advice is that the community association feel it should commence operation in 1979 and statistics furnished to the Department support this. Of course, if any change should take place in regard to these projections, the whole thing would have to be reviewed. That is the situation as of this moment.
That is a complete contradiction of the views expressed at a public meeting in that area. A decision was taken at a large public meeting and it was decided that 1977 should be the time. Would the Minister not review the situation in view of that?
The views expressed at that meeting may have been different from the advice given to me. I have already told the Deputy that I will keep these things under review.