Vol. 500 No. 1
397 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress, if any, made in the provision of an all Irish second level school in the Baldoyle area of County Dublin in view of the fact that Deputy Owen understands Scoil Neasan has made an application for such a school; and if any other all Irish primary or secondary schools are being provided currently in the Dublin area. [3215/99]
408 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science if it is still his intention to provide an all Irish secondary school in the north-east Dublin area before the start of the 1999 school year having regard to an application by An Fochoiste Meánoideachais; if arrangements are being put in place to facilitate this year's primary school leavers; if his attention has been drawn to the anger of parents who have to travel long distances to alternative schools with their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3288/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 397 and 408 together.
The position is that an application was received in my Department from a local group, An Fochoiste Meánoideachais and City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, regarding the provision of an all-Irish second level school in north-east Dublin. The proposed location of the school was a site adjacent to Scoil Neasáin in Artane.
An examination of the need for such facility was carried out by the planning section of my Department. The result indicated a significant level of demand arising from increased all-Irish provision at primary school level in this area in recent years. An assessment carried out by the technical staff of my Department revealed that, at 1.2 acres, the proposed site adjacent to Scoil Neasáin would be totally inadequate as a location for a permanent school building.
I accept that some pupils in north-east Dublin may experience inconvenience in terms of distance to an existing all-Irish second level school. My Department will continue to work with An Fochoiste Meánoideachais and City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee to develop an appropriate response at the earliest possible date.
There are no other applications in my Department at present for the provision of additional all-Irish primary or second level schools in the Dublin area.
