Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Placement.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

124 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the availability of places at Malahide community school for first year students in September next; the status regarding the provision of a new school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12478/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

My Department is examining the position with regard to the availability of second level places for first year students in Malahide community school for next September. However, my Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can between them cater for all pupils seeking second level places. This may result in pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. Contact is ongoing with the school authority in Malahide with a view to resolving the situation for next September.

With regard to the proposed new building for Malahide community school, this project is at an early stage of architectural planning – pre-planning permission. It appears in section 7 of the capital programme for 2003 as published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. Given the level of financial commitments to be met from projects already in construction, I do not envisage that my Department will be in a position during this year to allow architectural planning for further large scale building projects, including the project at Malahide, to progress beyond their current authorised stage. The timing of when the project can progress is dependent on the financial allocation for 2004 and subsequent years.