Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - Kilcoole (Wicklow) School.

Mr. Roche

With the permission of the House I propose to share time with Deputies McManus, Timmins and Fox. The fact that so many Members representing County Wicklow intend to speak on this matter indicates that it is not a party political issue but is rather one of great concern. I am glad the Minister for Education and Science is present to take this debate.

The delay in making a decision on the Kilcoole school is incomprehensible, unforgivable and extremely costly. It is incomprehensible because this matter has been allowed to dither on since 1985; it is unforgivable because children in Kilcoole, Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy and surrounding areas are being educationally disadvantaged because of the failure of successive Governments to provide a second level school; and it is costly from the taxpayer's point of view because the value of the site has risen from £50,000 in 1986 to £1.3 million and the price continues to rise.

In the period 1985-6 it was decided that Kilcoole should be the site for a new second level school. At that time, because of the initiative taken by county councillors, a land bank was purchased in Kilcoole and ten acres were set aside for this school project. Wicklow County Council offered the VEC and the Department of Education a direct sale of this site but the Department did what it does best — it dithered, stonewalled and ultimately demurred from taking a decision.

As already stated, this delay has resulted in the cost of the site rising from £50,000 to £1.3 million. Moreover, in recent years Wicklow County Council has chopped pieces off the site which has declined from ten acres to 7.1 acres. This makes no sense. In 1985 the population of Kilcoole and surrounding areas was sufficient to encourage the provision of a school. That population has virtually doubled in the past 15 years and it will increase by a further 50 per cent under the current county development plan.

Will the Minister ensure that his officials complete their interminable studies, reviews and examinations and make a decision, something they do not do very often? I am pleased the Minister is present because I want to make it clear that I intend to haunt his office, regardless of who is in power, until this school is built.

Ms McManus

I thank Deputy Roche for sharing time. I support his views on this matter, the genesis of which dates back many years. It involves an initiative taken by members of Wicklow County Council who built up a strong case which is recognised as being justified. These people prepared the ground by ensuring that there was a land bank in place.

That has been campaigned for vigorously to the point where, when the negotiations to form this Government were taking place, it became a central issue. In that regard I refer to the Official Report of 26 June 1997 when Deputy Fox indicated her support for this Government and put at the top of her list of items she agreed with it the construction of a secondary school to cope with the rapidly growing population of north east Wicklow, a site for which is available in Kilcoole. She stated: "I have received an undertaking that the planning process will be initiated immediately and its building commenced not later than next year". We are now in this mess and I ask the Minister to respond in the same spirit as we have asked him to deal with this issue.

Mr. Timmins

I thank Deputy Roche for affording me time to speak on this subject. I will be brief. People in the greater Kilcoole area have waited almost 15 years for a promised secondary school. As Deputy Roche pointed out, the population has doubled in the past 13 or 14 years. This represents almost three generations of pupils who had to leave the greater area for second level education. I am sure the Minister will use his good offices to speed up the project.

Miss Fox

I thank Deputy Roche for sharing his time with me. I do not intend to criticise the

Minister because I believe he has made more progress in the past ten months than has been made in the previous ten years. I am sure he will appreciate, however, that this matter is a major concern of all the TDs in Wicklow.

Sometimes the closer one gets to the finishing line, the further away it can seem. I am sure the Minister will understand the reason we are again putting pressure on him.

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I thank the Deputies for their contributions which give me the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the provision of a new second level school in Kilcoole, County Wicklow.

I wish to outline the background to the case. As the Deputies said, in January 1985 the then Minister for Education approved a new second level school for Kilcoole-Newtownmountkennedy in view of the then anticipated population growth in the area. The school would be co-educational and would operate under the aegis of County Wicklow vocational education committee. The level of accommodation to be provided was 500 pupil places. Department sanction was conveyed to the VEC to enter into negotiations for the purchase of a particular site. Subsequently, the school was not proceeded with due to a belief that existing schools were in a position to cater for all pupils seeking places and sanction for the acquisition of a site was withdrawn.

The position up to the time of the general election was that this project was not being proceeded with. That must be made clear.

Following my appointment, I reviewed the question of the provision of a school in the Kilcoole area. Deputy McManus raised the contribution of Deputy Mildred Fox to this process. It is clear that Deputy Fox had a key influence on the decision to proceed with the provision of a second level school in Kilcoole. She has been relentless, as have Deputies Roche, McManus and Timmins, in terms of the pursuit of this project. It is unfair to suggest that commitments are not being fulfilled. I want to give a particular undertaking that this school will be built in line with commitments given.

The population in the area has and will continue to expand. Currently, officials in my Department are evaluating the number of pupil places, etc., as well as the accommodation schedule in the new school. It is unfair to say they have dithered in regard to this matter. It is very easy to blame officials but I reject the criticism made of officials in this regard. When intermediate bodies such as vocational education committees are involved, Department officials do not and cannot impose their will. My officials know that a decision has been taken to proceed with a second level school in Kilcoole and that all the stops are to be pulled out in terms of that provision. We all know that site acquisition and various issues can cause problems but I do not accept that the blame lies at the door of the Department or the officials.

County Wicklow vocational education committee is currently in negotiations with Wicklow County Council in relation to the acquisition of a site for the new school. As the House will appreciate, it would be inappropriate to discuss the details of such financial negotiations before the matter is finalised.

The Deputies can be assured that, since my appointment, this project has proceeded without undue delay and this will continue to be the case.