asked the Minister for Education the present position in relation to the proposals for a post-primary school for Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, County Dublin.
27.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tallaght (Dublin) School.
26.
asked the Minister for Education if the site proposed for the post-primary school for Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, County Dublin and the Tymon North area is now in the ownership of his Department.
28.
asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that it is the wish of the overwhelming majority of the residents of Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, County Dublin, that the post-primary school to serve their area be constructed on the Tymon North site; and if sanction will be granted by him for the project on this site; and, if so, if he will specify the likely commencement and completion dates for this school.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 27 and 28 together.
My Department have acquired a site at Tymon North for a new second-level school to serve the Kilnamanagh area. It is intended to provide a new school on this site, but it is not possible at this stage of planning to give an indication of the date on which building will be commenced or when the new school premises will be completed.
Is the Minister not aware that there is an urgent need for this school and that there will be pressure for spaces in it approaching next September? Having regard to the fact that Kilnamanagh is a community of 1,500 houses, can the Minister not be more specific about when the building works will get under way on this site?
As the Deputy will be aware, the whole question of post-primary school provision in that area is by no means a straightforward matter. I have looked at the situation not only in respect of this proposed school but also in respect of other proposals for development in the general area, the way in which existing schools function and how they might be affected by the provision of further new schools. As the Deputy will know, there have been a variety of views put forward relationg to both the precise location and the size of the proposed school for this area. I am indicating that we have acquired this specific site in Tymon North and that it is intended to provide a school on this site as soon as possible.
Could the Minister confirm that a firm decision has been taken that this is the site that will be for Kilnamanagh?
I am certainly saying that a school will be built on this site.
A post-primary school?
Yes.
Can the Minister say if the school at Tymon North will be the first mixed school to be built in this area?
When the Deputy says "in this area" does he mean specifically the Kilnamanagh grouping of approximately 1,500 houses, to which Deputy Taylor referred, or is he talking about the area which might be a reasonable catchment area in this district? There are other schools within a distance of a mile in the post-primary category.
I am talking about the area the Minister referred to in his reply.
In my supplementary replies I indicated the general provision in that area, that it was not only the question of deciding on the size and exact location of new schools but that it was also a question of looking at how best they should fit in along with the existing schools. That was my point. In giving a firm commitment to building a school on the Tymon North site I was not pre-empting decisions about the size and location of other schools in that general area.
Can the Minister say if the decision to build a school at Tymon North means that school will go ahead irrespective of other decisions or is the building of that school still contingent on other decisions to be made in relation to the general area?
No. I will repeat the relevant section in my reply. I stated:
It is intended to provide a new school on this site, but it is not possible at this stage of planning to give an indication of the date on which building will be commenced or when the new school premises will be completed.
Can the Minister say when that decision was made?
Very rapidly.
I asked the Minister if he could say when the decision to build the school at Tymon North was made?
My predecessor made a decision in respect of that area, but there were subsequent proposals which affect the general provision of schools in that area which I understand were to be taken into account. There is no question of there not being a school on that site.
Does the Minister intend to carry out the decision I took?
I intend to carry out a decision to provide a post-primary school on that site. I am also seeking to take account of various other proposals that will affect development in that area.
Will the Minister state exactly what are the proposals?
The Deputy is aware of them himself.
I am asking him to specify them.
My understanding is that Deputy Taylor is also interested in the question of providing post-primary facilities on the Castleview site. There was a suggestion that the proposed school at Tymon North should not be built there but should be built at Castleview.
It is the Minister who makes the decisions, not I. I am asking him what is his decision on this matter.
As I have indicated, I have taken a decision that there will be a school on the Tymon North site but I am not pre-empting decisions as to other post-primary provision in the general area. I think I have given a reasonable indication of what is being done at this stage. I am not delaying the provision of post-primary facilities in this area. I do not think there is any question of there not being provision for pupil enrolment as the need arises. Taking account of views expressed by Deputy Taylor and others, I do not think it unreasonable that I should want to give all views full and reasonable examination.
Will the Minister state if a definite decision has been made that this will be a community school? Will he also state that this school will be built before the proposed school at Castleview?
I have indicated that a school will be built on the Tymon North site. That is the first additional school in that district.
I have allowed a considerable number of supplementary questions on this question. There are other Deputies present awaiting replies to their questions.
Will the Minister say that a definite decision has been taken that it will be a community school?
There is no reference to the nature of the school in the various points that were made. I shall have to go back and see if that was a contentious matter at an earlier stage.
I had not decided on that.
There is no reference to it.
I should like to press the Minister a little further with regard to the school at Tymon North. I asked for some indication of timing in my question. The Minister has confined himself to saying that a school will be built on that site but that could mean anything. I should like him to give some approximate indication as to when that might be.
I think the earliest date on which the school could operate would be the school year commencing autumn 1984. Certainly, any examination that needs to be finalised in my Department will not delay that.