Vol. 437 No. 6
570 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Education if she will give approval in principle to the application from the County Dublin vocational education committee for the provision on an all-Irish post-primary school in Lucan, County Dublin, to cater for pupils leaving Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig in Palmerstown and other all-Irish primary schools in the area; if she will give this approval during 1994; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My Department has received two applications to establish all-Irish post-primary schools with the aim of catering for the West Dublin/East Kildare areas:
— from County Dublin vocational education committee, to establish a school in Lucan in September 1994;
— from County Kildare vocational education committee, to establish a school in Celbridge in September 1994.
Lucan and Celbridge are only four miles apart and, accordingly, my Department takes the view that not more than one all-Irish post-primary school will be required to cater for the future needs of the areas in question.
My Department is at present examining the two applications in the light of the most recent statistical data available for primary and post-primary schools. I hope to give a decision during 1994 on the likely need for a new post-primary all-Irish school for the areas mentioned, and, if the decision is positive, on its location.
