Vol. 338 No. 3
asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the Government's written commitment dated 24 May 1982 to proceed with the construction of a community school at Esker, Lucan, County Dublin as clearly expressed in a letter (details supplied) on behalf of the Government, he will now state when construction will commence; and if he will confirm that the school will open on 1 September 1983.
601.
asked the Minister for Education if he will confirm the Government's commitment that the second level school to be provided at Esker, Lucan, County Dublin will be a community school.
Dublin South-East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together.
County Dublin Vocational Education Committee were given official sanction in 1973 for a new school in Lucan to replace their existing school. The committee subsequently acquired a site in the Esker area and appointed consultants for the project which has reached the outline sketch scheme stage. Such school would not be ready for the admission of pupils until September 1985 at the earliest.
Representations have been made to former Ministers for Education that the school to be provided should be a community school rather than a school administered by the Vocational Education Committee. The former Minister for Education, Mr. John Boland, T.D., met a deputation in this connection on 26 January 1982 and drew their attention to the fact that the Vocational Education Committee had been given sanction to build the school, had appointed consultants and had commenced the planning of the project. The Minister subsequently sent a letter to this effect to Deputies Mitchell, Burke and Fleming, on 10 February 1982.
I am having the representations from the residents given further consideration in my Department and the question is being considered whether, in the context of the anticipated growth in the school-going population in the general area, a more satisfactory arrangement would be two medium sized schools rather than one large sized school to accommodate a number of pupils in excess of 700. Such review of the matter will be expedited as much as possible.
