Vol. 542 No. 2
535 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he supports a plan recently unveiled by Laois Vocational Education Committee proposing the amalgamation of the vocational school in Portlaoise with the Patrician College, Ballyfin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23923/01]
The management authorities at the Patrician college, Ballyfin, recently indicated to my Department that they were not in a position to continue to provide second level education in Ballyfin college. Accordingly, they proposed to cease first year enrolments from September 2002 and to close the school in June 2005.
In these circumstances I support the joint proposal by the secondary school trustees and County Laois Vocational Education Committee for an amalgamation of Ballyfin college and the vocational school in Portlaoise into a community college under the aegis of County Laois VEC. The proposed amalgamation of these two schools will guarantee the option of co-education in the area, in greatly enhanced facilities, and will also provide an option for employment for the permanent staff of Ballyfin college. The implementation of this proposal will be addressed in the context of the building project which is currently under way.
