Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 4

Written Answers. - Knocklyon (Dublin) School Site.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

207 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to defer her arrangements to dispose of an 11 acre site at Scholarstown Road, Knocklyon, Dublin 16, which was purchased in 1982 for use as a school site; the price paid for the site originally; the current estimate of its value as an educationally zoned site; the estimate of its value should it be rezoned for residential use; the official or unofficial contacts, if any, made by her or her officials with the leaseholders of the site, South Dublin County Council, with any Labour Party members of the council or, with members of any other party on the council or officials of the council regarding the disposal of the site or having the zoning changed from educational use; whether her timetable on the disposal of the site is related to a rezoning proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11730/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The site at Scholarstown Road was purchased by my Department in 1982 for the purpose of providing a post-primary school in the Knocklyon area. The price paid at the time was £385,000.

As the Deputy will be aware, following an extremely detailed and lengthy examination of all relevant factors, it has been established that a post-primary school is not required in the Knocklyon area. It was decided instead that the demand for school places could be met by providing additional accommodation at Coláiste Éanna, Ballyroan, and Templeogue College.

With regard to Coláiste Éanna, the first phase of the extension project comprising of 743 square meters and costing approximately £470,000 is now completed. The accommodation provided in this phase consists of seven general classrooms, a commerce room, a staff-room, a social studies room and a language laboratory. The schedule of accommodation for the second phase provides for 2,000 square meters of accommodation costing approximately £2 million. Architectural planning is under way for this project.

The planning of a 1,050 square metres extension for Templeogue College is also under way. The accommodation to be provided consists of four general classrooms, a language laboratory, a science laboratory and preparation area, a demonstration room, an art and craft room and a technology room.

The proposed works are intended to cater for the projected long-term enrolments in both schools, including pupils from the Knocklyon area. The site is, therefore, no longer required by my Department for school building purposes. At this stage, it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment on its current value. South Dublin County Council is not now and never has been a leaseholder of the site.

Some time ago, officials of my Department met the manager of South Dublin County Council in order to discuss a possible exchange involving a site in another part of County Dublin which the Department needed for school building purposes and the Knocklyon site. In the event this matter was not pursued. The question of the rezoning of the site did not arise. No further meetings have since taken place with officials of my Department.