asked the Minister for Education the reason she has refused sanction for the building of a community college on the seven acre site provided by Dundalk Urban District Council for Dundalk Vocational Education Committee; if she is aware that the present population as projected by the Dundalk Urban District Council will reach 40,000 by the year 2001; and if she will give her Department's projected figures and their source.
Written Answers. - Dundalk Community College.
324.
There are seven post primary schools in Dundalk, including the vocational school. My Department has approved the building of a substantial extension to the vocational school which will increase the pupil capacity of that school to 900. When the proposed extension to the vocational school is concluded my Department considers that there will be sufficient post primary school places in the Dundalk centre until the early 1990's. At this stage it is not considered that the increase in the demand for places will be such as to warrant the building of an additional post primary school in Dundalk at present.
I am aware of the increase in population projected by Dundalk Urban District Council and because of this I have asked my Department to keep the situation under continuous review. My Department's projections of post primary accommodation needs are based mainly on the enrolments in primary schools, on the number of baptisms in the general area and on new housing data.