Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Mar 1994

Vol. 439 No. 5

Written Answers. - Dundalk Post-primary Schools.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

203 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the number of post-primary school places available in the Dundalk post-primary catchment area with reference to school type and levels; her Department's estimate of first year pupil intake in post-primary schools for September 1994; the projected output from primary schools servicing this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

There are seven post-primary schools (six secondary and one vocational) in Dundalk Post-primary Centre. These schools are:

Coláiste Rí CBS, (Co-Ed);

St. Mary's College, (Co-Ed);

De La Salle Secondary School, (Boys);

St. Vincent's Secondary School, (Girls);

St. Louis Secondary School, (Girls);

Dundalk Grammar School, (Co-Ed)

— Protestant;

Vocational School, (Co-Ed).

The current combined enrolment in the schools is 4,845 pupils.

On the attached statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report, are set out up-to-date statistical details on enrolments in the primary and post-primary schools in the Dundalk area.

My Department accepts that in the short term the demand for places in some of the post-primary schools in Dundalk may exceed the number of places available. In the circumstances, any application for the provision of extra temporary accommodation at these schools will be given careful and sympathetic consideration.

As is the case with all major post-primary centres, the enrolment-accommodation situation in Dundalk will be kept under review in my Department in the light of the most up to date enrolment figures and other relevant factors, i.e., demographic trends, housing and birth statistics for the area.

Dundalk Catchment Area

1. Primary School Output 1994-2001

Year	Boys	Girls	Total
1994	489	460	949
1995	445	447	892
1996	416	388	804
1997	385	362	747
1998	382	377	759
1999	410	367	777
2000	418	402	820
2001	418	403	821

These figures are based on the number of pupils attending primary schools in the Dundalk area in 1993-94.

2. The following figures show the number of new pupils who were enrolled in September 1993:

Coláiste Rí CBS, (Co-Ed)	133
St. Mary's College, (Co-Ed)	119
De La Salle Secondary School, (Boys)	145
St. Vincent's Secondary School, (Girls)	198
St. Louis Secondary School, (Girls)	144
Dundalk Grammar School, (Co-Ed) — Protestant	78
Vocational School, (Co-Ed).	170

The Department would expect that a similar number of pupils will be enrolled in these schools in September 1994.