Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Glanmire (Cork) New School Project.

Mr. D. Wallace

I thank you for the opportunity to raise this important matter.

The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, would agree with me that the Glanmire area of Cork is one of the fastest growing satellite areas of Cork city. In the coming two years approximately 1,800 new houses will be built. There is also ongoing commercial development such as banks and so on to provide the necessary facilities in the area. The local GAA club, Sarsfield's, are spending large sums of money in developing their facilities for the youth of the area.

There are, however, no second level schools in this area. For the past ten years an excellent local committee has been campaigning with the full support of the local community for second level educational facilities. The first concession from the Department of Education came in the early nineties when they provided financial assistance to the local community to bus the children to schools in other areas. More than 600 students are bussed out of Glanmire every day to 12 schools, including schools in Carrignavar, Midleton and St. Aidan's College in Dublin Hill. That shows the magnitude of the problem.

There was great rejoicing when it was agreed finally that a school would be built. Everybody welcomed that decision. There was unanimous political support for the campaign and everybody worked together to ensure that the case articulated by the local community was made. We had been told that building would proceed on the school from the middle of last month, but unfortunately that has not happened. There were hiccups along the way earlier but this was the final straw.

The local committee had sent out circulars advising the local people that the school was proceeding. However, this has not happened and there is widespread local concern that the school will not be ready to allow pupils enrol for September 1997.

I am delighted that the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, my colleague from Cork, is taking this Adjournment Debate. I rarely raise an issue on the Adjournment but it is very important to convey the concerns of the people of Glanmire. I understand there are problems, but I have been told they are minute. Will the Minister of State enlighten us as to when these problems will be resolved and, more importantly, when work will begin on this urgently needed school? Everybody is agreed on the need for the school to relieve pressure.

Mr. O'Sullivan

I must apologise to Deputy Dan Wallace on behalf of the Minister for Education and the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Allen, who are both unavoidably absent. Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for giving me the opportunity of responding to this Adjournment debate.

In 1994 approval was given by the Department for the provision of a community college in the Glanmire-Riverstown area of Cork to cater for 750 pupils and the County Cork vocational education committee was authorised to employ a design team to plan the school.

Architectural planning for the project has been completed and tenders have been invited for the construction work. As the project has been included in the 1996 capital programme, finance is available to allow the work to start this year.

The project in Glanmire is one of the largest post primary building projects being dealt with by the Department at present. In addition to 13 general classrooms, the accommodation to be provided will consist of lecture rooms, science laboratories, computer technology areas, woodwork-construction studies areas, a language laboratory and numerous other specialist areas, as well as staff accommodation and administrative offices.

The Minister for Education and the Minister of State, Deputy Bernard Allen, are fully aware of the long and intensive campaign that has been undertaken by the people of Riverstown and Glanmire to have a post primary school provided in the immediate locality. I might add that the Minister of State, Deputy Allen, has actively supported this campaign over the years. As a Deputy for Cork North-Central, I am well aware of the protracted campaign and the difficulties posed for people of the area. For many years children had to leave their community, travelling to all parts of the city and county to as many as seven different schools. The new school, which will have the most up-to-date educational facilities possible, will be a tremendous asset not just for students and teachers but also for the whole community. This endorses Deputy Wallace's point of the Sarsfield hurling club and the role it is playing in the community.

At present the Department's technical staff are examining the final tender report. When this examination has been completed, the Department will be in contact with the County Cork vocational education committee regarding the placing of the contract. I understand that this technical examination will be completed in a matter of days.

I appreciate the understandable anxieties of the people of Riverstown-Glanmire at what may seem to be a lengthy process before construction starts. However, the House will appreciate that with a major project such as this costing well over £3 million, the Department must ensure that the necessary formalities are properly completed.

Both the Minister, Deputy Bhreathnach, and the Minister of State, Deputy Allen, are conscious of the urgent need for post primary accommodation in the Glanmire-Riverstown area. I assure the House that the remaining technical details will be sorted out very quickly so that construction work can begin as soon as possible. It is the intention of the Department to have the accommodation completed and ready for occupation by September 1997.

The Dáil adjourned at 4.50 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 5 July 1996.