Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 7

Written Answers. - Castleknock (Dublin) Second Level School.

Tomás MacGiolla

Question:

14 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education if he has made a decision not to build a second level school in the Castleknock area where a site is awaiting a school for nearly ten years; if so, whether such a decision was made on the basis of the Bannon report; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Bannon report has been disputed and rejected in the area; if he will agree to meet the Castleknock School Action Group to discuss the Bannon report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

My Department is satisfied that the needs of the Castleknock pupils can continue to be met by the post-primary schools which currently cater for the majority of them. The question of the provision of a separate post-primary school for the area does not therefore arise.

The role of the consultants was to assist my Department in a study to determine the need and provisions for post-primary school places in Castleknock and also in the Hartstown and Dunboyne areas. In arriving at its decision on the matter my Department had regard to the findings of the consultants, as well as the submissions made by the Action Group and data on housing developments secured from the local authorities.

I am aware that the Castleknock community does not accept the decision made in this case and their disappointment is understandable. I would like to point out however, that during the course of the study in question, the consultants met with the local interest groups and their views were taken into account in the preparation of the report. My Department also took full cognisance of the submissions made by these groups.

I am satisfied that no useful purpose would be served by my meeting with the Castleknock School Action Group at present.