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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 1

Written Answers. - County Kildare Schools.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

237 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the current position with regard to the implementation and completion of the programme to extend facilities at Confey College, Leixlip, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

It is understood that County Kildare vocational education committee have invited tenders for this project and that the closing date for receipt of these is 9 October 1992. At this stage it is not possible to be precise as to the date of commencement or completion of the project.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

238 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the present proposals for the provision of second level school places at Celbridge, County Kildare with particular reference to the need for replacement facilities at St. Wolstan's Holy Faith School; if he will outline his proposals to meet comprehensively the second level requirements in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There are two post-primary schools in Celbridge — the Salesian College with an enrolment of 642 boys and St. Wolstan's College, managed by the Holy Faith Sisters, with an enrolment of 512 girls. My Department has agreed to grant-aid the provision of additional accommodation at the Salesian College, Celbridge, to cater for its increased enrolment.

The question of providing post-primary facilities for girls, both to replace the existing accommodation at St. Wolstan's secondary school and to cater for the increasing demand for pupil places in the Celbridge area, is being examined by my Department in the light of the announcement by the Holy Faith Sisters of their intention to withdraw from management of their school.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

239 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if the secondary school transport service will be extended to Wheatfield Upper, Straffan, County Kildare with a view to facilitating the eight families in the area now attending Scoil Mhuire in Clane due to shortage of places in other schools within their catchment area, having particular regard to the fact that the service is already available within one mile of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I understand that some parents in the general area in question propose to send their children to Clane Post-Primary Centre, which is not their appropriate Centre for transport purposes. The most that can be offered to such children in respect of their attendance at Clane is concessionary transport from the catchment boundary of their appropriate school. This concession would apply only to basically eligible pupils, and is subject to spare seats being available on existing services and to no extra cost being incurred.

The rules for school transport preclude the extension of bus services into adjacent catchment areas, to avoid both unnecessary duplication of services, and distortion of enrolment patterns.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

240 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education whether it is expected to reschedule school transport services from the Carbury area of County Kildare to Edenderry, County Offaly with a view to facilitating children who previously availed of a concessionary service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The service on which the children in question had been given incidental accommodation, up to the end of the 1991/92 school-year, was re-organised from the start of the current school-year, in line with revised operating hours adopted by the school being serviced.

One of the effects of this was that the closing times of the different schools no longer synchronised, and this created a problem for some children who had previously used the above service. My Department then arranged for a separate service to be set up for the children from the Carbury area. This new service has been in operation since Monday, 28 September, 1992.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

241 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the current position regarding the proposed extra facilities at Rathcoffey national school, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Sketch plans are being prepared for the proposed extension to this school. When the plans have been completed, the question of advancing the project to the next stage will be considered in the light of the capital resources available and my Department's on-going commitments and priorities.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

242 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if he will outline his intentions with regard to the starting and completion of replacement facilities at Ballyroe national school, Athy, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There is no record in my Department of an application for replacement facilities at Ballyroe national school, Athy, County Kildare.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

243 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the proposed extension and/or replacement of facilities at Hewestown national school, Clane, County Kildare with particular reference to the invitation of tenders and the carrying out of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Working drawings are being prepared for the proposed extension to this school. When they have been completed, the question of inviting tenders will be considered in the light of the capital resources available and my Department's on-going commitments and priorities.

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