Consultants were commissioned to assist my Department in a study to determine the need and provision for post-primary school places in the Castleknock/ Hartstown/Huntstown/Dunboyne areas.
The findings of the study indicated that there was an immediate need for a new post primary school in Hartstown to be followed by a new school in Dunboyne. The findings also indicated 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 conclusions of the report has been accepted by the Department. In view of other pressing demands on limited resources the provision of a separate primary school for the area would therefore not be appropriate in present circumstances.
The work of the consultants was confidential to the Department. 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 submission made by these groups.