asked the Minister for Education the number of voluntary secondary schools for girls in the Dublin 1 area at present.
719.
Written Answers. - Second Level Schools.
718.
asked the Minister for Education the number of voluntary secondary schools for girls that have closed in the last decade in Dublin 1, or are in the process of closing.
720.
asked the Minister for Education the number of voluntary secondary schools for girls that have closed in the last decade in Dublin 2, or are in the process of closing.
721.
asked the Minister for Education the number of boys secondary schools in the Dublin 1 area at present.
722.
asked the Minister for Education the number of boys secondary schools that have closed in the last decade or are in the process of closing in the Dublin 1 and 2 areas.
With permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 718 to 722, inclusive, together.
There are two girls' and three boys' secondary schools in the Dublin No. 1 area. No boys' school has closed down in the last decade in areas Dublin 1 and 2 and no girls' school has closed in the Dublin 2 area, nor am I aware of any being in the process of closing.
Within the past decade, two girls' schools have closed in the Dublin 1 area, while a third school authority has recently announced its intentions of transferring its school to an area in North County Dublin.
723.
asked the Minister for Education his Government's Policy towards the retention of existing second-level educational establishments in the inner city of Dublin.
724.
asked the Minister for Education if the closure of Loreto College, North Great George's Street, Dublin and its transfer to Swords is in line with his Government's policy and commitment to the development of the inner city.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 723 and 724 together.
My Government are very much in favour of the retention of adequate satisfactory secondary school accommodation in the inner city of Dublin. The Deputy will be aware that secondary schools are voluntary institutions and the question of their continuance or closure is a matter for the school authorities concerned.
With regard to the decision of the authorities of Loreto College, North Great George's Street, to transfer their school to North County Dublin, I am satisfied that the transfer will not result in a diminution in the level of post-primary education facilities available to children who live in the inner city area.