Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 4

Written Answers - School Accommodation.

Seamus Brennan

Question:

204 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if she will support a request for a meeting between officials of her Department and representatives of the board of management of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14, to urgently discuss the current acute accommodation crisis in the school which will be more acute in the 1997-98 academic year unless appropriate advance planning is set in motion; if she will agree to examine the reason a request for a meeting was turned down since her Department conveyed a negative decision to the school on its request for additional accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21064/96]

Seamus Brennan

Question:

205 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the specialised service provided at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14 which results in special educational needs pupils being enrolled from a wide catchment area encompassing south Dublin, Wicklow and Clondalkin; her views on whether the request from her Department to modify the school's enrolment policy will deny local children access to their local school due to the specialised service provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21065/96]

Seamus Brennan

Question:

206 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the continued development of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14 which has responded to exhortations from her Department in the establishment of strong links with parents' groups in regard to fund-raising, routine school affairs and general consultation on many matters; her views on whether one of the significant features of the successful development of the school has been the organisation of relevant courses for parents, a parent/toddler group and a major FÁS community employment scheme employing caretaking staff and classroom assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21066/96]

Seamus Brennan

Question:

207 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the current acute accommodation problems at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 14; if she agrees with the view of the planning section in her Department that no additional accommodation is warranted due to the fact that the school's remedial teacher is required to operate in a storeroom, a teacher and 17 children are in a room which may be in contravention of fire regulations and there is no suitable classroom accommodation for the already sanctioned support teacher for travellers; if she agrees with the suggestion of her Department that the existing computer room, staff room and hall should be converted to general classroom use in view of the fact that the school in question has 39 special educational needs pupils and 339 mainstream pupils and is included in the disadvantaged schools scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21067/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 to 207 inclusive, together.

I have requested the planning section of my Department to make early arrangements with the school authorities for a meeting to discuss the issues. I have also requested that, following the meeting, a comprehensive report be prepared for my attention.