Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
336. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed school at Bannow Road, Cabra West which is currently the subject of a planning application; if this is a primary or secondary school; the patronage of the school; the proposed cost of this school; if funding is currently available; the timeframe for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46748/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that demographic projections based on child benefit data in the Dublin 7 area indicates a requirement for up to 38 additional classrooms in the general area in the coming years. While most of that demand will be catered for by using current capacity in the existing schools in the area and also through the proposed expansion of some of those schools, the Department forecasts indicate that a new school building may be required to meet future demand that is projected to arise in the coming years. With the closure of the FÁS training centre in Cabra, my Department was approached to establish whether there would be an educational use for training centre property. A planning application for a 16 classroom primary school was prepared and recently submitted by my Department in relation to part of the former training centre site. Securing the former training centre property from FÁS to meet future demand that may arise in the coming years is an effective way of using land currently in State ownership but no longer required for its original use. Assuming that planning for a school building is secured, my Department will have the ability to deliver 16 primary school classrooms in anticipation of meeting future needs. A decision in relation to the development timeframe and use of the property will be made at the appropriate time.
