asked the Minister for Education if he will confirm that Collinstown Park Community College was built exclusively for children leaving St. Mary's national school, Rowlagh, and St. Peter's national school, Neilstown.
90.
Written Answers - Clondalkin (Dublin) Educational Facilities.
89.
asked the Minister for Education the provisions which are being made to provide second level education to the residents of Quarryvale, Greenfort and Shancastle estates.
91.
asked the Minister for Education the provisions which are being made to provide first and second level education to the residents of the expanding Balgaddy and Woodavens estates.
92.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that Collinstown Park Community College is not equipped to cater for all the applications it has already received; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
93.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the board of management of Collinstown Park Community College have directed its principal to give priority to children leaving St. Mary's national school, Rowlagh and St. Peter's national school, Neilstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
94.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the principal of Collinstown Park Community College, in complying with the directive of his board of management, has, so far, refused to test children leaving St. Bernadette's national school, Quarryvale; the corrective measures he is prepared to take; and when such measures will be effective.
95.
asked the Minister for Education if, bearing in mind that the parents of these children are determined to send their children to Collinstown Park Community College, he will guarantee either a place for them in the college, or, failing that, equal opportunity to the places that are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
96.
asked the Minister for Education the proposals put forward by Collinstown Park Community College which will enable them to cater for all of the children on their waiting list.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 96, inclusive, together.
My Department have sanctioned grants towards the cost of the eventual provision of 16 classrooms to cater for first level education in the district of Balgaddy, County Dublin. I understand the Woodavens estate to be adjacent to Balgaddy in the Neilstown district. Tenders for the construction of part of this accommodation as a first module of a new national school have been referred to my Department for consideration. Because, however, the rate of housing development in the Balgaddy area did not proceed as rapidly as originally expected, a site more suitably located in relation to such housing development as has taken place to date is to be indicated to my Department. When this matter has been resolved, the way will be open for the placing of a contract for the first part of the new national school. I am not in a position as yet to say when construction may commence.
With regard to post-primary education, Collinstown Park Community College was planned to cater for the Neilstown and Rowlagh areas of Clondalkin. Up to this year it was able to enrol the Quarryvale primary school leavers in addition to those in its own area. Schools in developing areas such as Clondalkin are expected to cater primarily for their own area but, accommodation permitting, pupils from surrounding areas may be enrolled. I should point out that the formulation of an intake policy is a matter for the board of management of each school.
I am aware that over 300 pupils have applied for places in Collinstown Park Community College for next September. I am also aware that, on educational grounds, and for longer term accommodation reasons, the board of management consider that it is not in a position to enrol such a large number. In these circumstances some of the pupils who have applied will not gain admission to that college next September. There will, however, be accommodation for them in other neighbouring second level schools. My Department are currently carrying out a detailed examination of the accommodation requirements in the north Clondalkin area. In the course of this examination due consideration will be given to the future needs of all the pupils of this area. My Department are satisfied that all pupils leaving Quarryvale primary school this year will have access to a post primary school.