Batt O'Keeffe
Question:74 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, being undertaken by her to ensure that places are provided for all students who wish to attend second level schools in Ballincollig, County Cork.
Written Answers. - County Cork Student Places.
Batt O'Keeffe
Question:89 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education the action, if any, she proposes taking to provide second level places for 22 pupils whose applications for entry to Ballincollig community college, County Cork, have been refused even though 15 of these students have brothers and sisters in the school.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 89 together.
There are two second-level schools in Ballincollig, i.e. Ballincollig Community School and Colaiste Choilm (Community College). The total capacity of the two schools is 1,440 pupil places.
In response to a recent request from the Management Authorities of the two schools and in the light of the likely future demand for places in the area, the question of increased provision for second-level education in Ballincollig has been under consideration in my Department. All the evidence available to my Department indicates that extra provision will be required to ensure that adequate places will be available for pupils from the primary schools in the catchment area who are seeking admission to the Ballincollig Schools in 1993-94 and subsequent school years. Accordingly, arrangements are being made in my Department to have Phase I of this provision in place, at the Community College, for September 1993.
With regard to the Deputy's statement that a number of pupils have been refused entry to the Community College, I would like to point out that intake policy is primarily a matter for school management subject to acceptable criteria being applied. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that in each postprimary centre sufficient accommodation is available to satisfy the overall demand for pupil places. I am satisfied that the provision being made in this case will be adequate to meet the future needs of the area.
Finally, I would like to express my own and my Department's appreciation of the initiative taken by the authorities of the Community School and the Community College in relation to the formation of a Sub-Committee representative of the Boards of the two schools in order to regulate the future intake into both schools.