Vol. 439 No. 5
23 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to provide second level education for the students of St. Joseph's College boys secondary school, Cahir, County Tipperary, which is closing in July 1994; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
There are three post primary schools in Cahir, the Convent of Mercy secondary school, St. Joseph's lay secondary school and the vocational school. The combined enrolment of the three schools this year is 826 pupils.
The Deputy will know that following prolonged discussions at local level agreement was reached in 1989 on the provision of a single post-primary school in Cahir. Agreement was also reached that the amalgamated school should be a community college under the aegis of County Tipperary (SR) vocational education committee. Architectural Planning of the new school is at detail design stage. It is hoped that the project will commence construction in 1995 or 1996, depending on the availability of funds.
I am aware of the poor condition of the existing school buildings at St. Joseph's college and of the management's decision to close the school in July.
The Deputy may be assured that sufficient places will be made available for students of St. Joseph's college next September. To this end officials from the planning section of my Department are in touch with the management authorities of the three post primary schools in the Centre with a view to finding a solution to the problem in the short-term, pending provision of the new school building.
