Vol. 503 No. 6
273 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to Stella Maris secondary school, Ballycastle, County Mayo; the plans, if any, in place for the future of the school; if the VEC has any input into the school; and if the VEC will take over the running of the school. [10769/99]
The Deputy will be aware of the circumstances surrounding the decision in October 1997, of the Sisters of Mercy, trustees of Stella Maris secondary school, Ballycastle, to phase out the school over a period of two years, commencing from September 1989. In line with that decision, the school did not enrol first year pupils last September and will close at the end of the 1999-2000 school year.
Lacken Cross vocational school is located in the same catchment area as the Stella Maris school. County Mayo Vocational Education Committee agreed that the Lacken Cross school would accommodate all new pupils, who would formerly have enrolled in Ballycastle and the remaining pupils in Stella Maris at the end of the 1999-2000 school year.
