asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that there are bulging numbers in schools in outer Dublin and falling numbers in some schools in inner Dublin, she has plans to encourage greater use of inner city schools.
Written Answers. - Use of Inner City Schools.
22.
The greater use of inner city primary schools for the relief of overcrowding in other primary schools is to be encouraged where this is considered feasible. However, where the distance involved is such as to require the use of transport by the pupils, there may be difficulty in getting agreement locally to such measure.
At present there exists a high degree of mobility on the part of pupils in the greater Dublin city area in their attendance at second level schools. Factors such as ease of access, whether by public or private transport, parental loyalty to a particular school and the reputation of a school are some of the influences which determine the school to which parents choose to send their children.
The statistical evidence available to my Department indicates that more than 30 per cent of pupils attending second level schools in the inner city area came from the outer suburban areas. My Department acknowledges this trend and, indeed, takes it into account when considering the provision of additional second level school accommodation in expanding suburban areas.
I would also wish to point out to the Deputy that the amount of second level accommodation in the inner city has been falling in line with the decline in the number of inner city children seeking second level education. In 1988 this trend will continue with the relocation of one inner city school in the suburbs and the closure of another.
In the circumstances I have outlined, I am satisfied that no additional measures are required at present to encourage the greater use of second level schools in the inner city by children from the outer suburban areas.