Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jan 1995

Vol. 447 No. 11

Written Answers. - De La Salle College, Dundalk, County Louth.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

146 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the additional accommodation required in De La Salle College, Dundalk, County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties in gaining admission to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3897/94]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The current position is that a design submission for the proposed extension was furnished to my Department last month. This material is currently under examination with the technical staff in the Building Unit.

On completion, my Department will contact the school to arrange a discussion meeting in this regard before proceeding to the next stage.

The De La Salle College is one of seven post-primary schools in Dundalk. The school has a current enrolment of 713 pupils. I am aware that in the short term the demand for places in the De La Salle may exceed the number of places available there.

My Department's main responsibility however in the matter of the provision of school accommodation is to ensure that in any multi-school centre there are sufficient places, overall, to meet the demand.

My Department is satisfied that with the provision of the current approved accommodation for De La Salle College and other post-primary schools in Dundalk, the centre will have sufficient accommodation to meet the future needs. The situation will be kept under review by my Department and any application for temporary accommodation to meet short term requirments will be given careful and sympathetic consideration.