Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:433 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education if he will outline his Department's future plans for the Christian Brothers school, Caherciveen, County Kerry.
Written Answers. - Integration of Kerry Schools.
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:434 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education the up to date position regarding post primary schools integration in Caherciveen, County Kerry.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.
As the Deputy is aware a decision has been taken to amalgamate the three post-primary schools in Caherciveen and the vocational school, Waterville, into a single school — a community college under County Kerry vocational education committee.
The management of the Christian Brothers school in Caherciveen is party to this agreement. However, due to falling enrolments, the trustees of this school have now informed my Department of their intention to close their school within a time scale yet to be decided by them.
As the school is a voluntary secondary school, the question of closure is a matter to be decided upon solely by the Christian Brothers themselves.
My Department's responsibility is to ensure that the decision to provide a single post-primary school, a community college, in Caherciveen is fully implemented. In this regard, the current position is that County Kerry vocational education committee has been authorised to purchase a site for the school. Recently, the vocational education committee queried the number of pupil places sanctioned for the long term need in Caherciveen. My Department are currently reviewing the projected figure, in the light of the arguments put forward by the vocational education committee, that the long term provision should be higher.