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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Schools Building Projects.

The school in question is more than 100 years old. Like many schools, it is run down. If the health and safety authorities were to visit, they would probably close it on the spot for failing on many grounds.

The main problem is that it has no space in which to develop and be refurbished. Anyone who knows the area will know that the entrance to the school is close to a main road. The heating system does not function properly. The school cannot be refurbished because there are no alternative buildings in the area to which to transfer the school while refurbishment takes place. This is a fact recognised by the Department in that it allowed plans to be drawn up for the site in which I am asking the Minister to intervene. The school has no yard in which the children can play. They do not do PE because they have nowhere to go.

For 40 years, there was a landlocked site next to the school, and no decision was made on it because the area was waiting for the Cork Street extension. The site lay idle. Cork Street has since reopened and the promised site is there for everyone to see. The problem is that it has a Dublin City Council "For Sale" sign on it. Despite all the promises over the years, the council has decided that because the Department of Education and Science has reneged on a promise to purchase the site, it will not wait around for the Department to make up its mind and has put the site up for sale. That is a regrettable decision by the council and I and other councillors and TDs who represent the area have urged the council to withdraw the "For Sale" sign.

Will the Minister immediately take steps to negotiate with Dublin City Council to purchase this land at a reasonable price? No one suggests it should be given for free. In an ideal world, that is what we would seek, that State bodies would transfer the land between them.

This area is one of major disadvantage and has suffered a great deal. It has the highest drug use in Europe among males between 17 and 25. What message would go out to young people in the area if the land they were promised for a new school was to be sold by the State?

This matter is urgent. Dublin City Council is trying to sell this land because its tax designation expires in June. I have asked the council to delay the sale and allow the tax designation to lapse. This might encourage the Department to re-examine the purchase of the land and the building of a school appropriate to the modern world and the educational needs of the young people of an area that has suffered disadvantage, unemployment and poor educational standards. Will the Minister give a commitment, even at this late stage, to re-negotiate with Dublin City Council, purchase this site and, at the earliest opportunity, build a proper school on the site on Cork Street?

I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to outline to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding acquisition of the site for St. Brigid's national school in the Coombe.

As the Deputy is aware, the 2003 capital programme has been published and full details of individual projects are available on the Department's website. Section 9 of the programme sets out the estimated expenditure and site acquisitions for primary schools this year.

On the basis of the budgetary allocation, it was not possible to provide for the acquisition of a site at St. Brigid's national school this year. The budgetary allocation for next year and subsequent years will determine the rate of progress on projects, including site acquisitions which could not be included in this year's programme.

In the meantime and subject to these funding constraints, the property management section of the Office of Public Works is exploring the possibility of acquiring the site adjoining St. Brigid's national school. The Deputy will appreciate that value for money for the taxpayer will be a key consideration for the Department of Education and Science in any discussions regarding the purchase of the site.

I note what the Deputy said and thank him for giving me the opportunity of outlining the Department's position. Given what he said that the owner is the local authority and the disposal of sites is a reserved function for the council, and if what he says is correct that members of the city council across party lines would be united on this, obviously they would be able to handle the issue as they wish at city council level. I will relate what he said to the Minister but it is under consideration for next year.

No alternative sites are available in the area.

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