Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Proposed Amalgamation of Dublin Schools.

Mr. Byrne

I thank the Chair for affording me this opportunity to raise an issue of concern to many people in Crumlin, Drimnagh and Maryland districts.

On Tuesday evening last I was present, with other public representatives, at a public meeting attended by in excess of 300 angry parents who had gathered to express their alarm and outrage that the plan to create a single co-educational second-level school in the parish of St. Bernadette in Crumlin had collapsed. Indeed it collapsed as a result of the Minister reneging on a commitment to contribute at least £150,000, a pittance, to facilitate the proposed merger. Is the Minister concerned that back in February 1991 the parents' council and the school authorities had agreed a new name for the proposed amalgamated school and had gone so far as agreeing on the new school colours for its pupils? Indeed the boys are today wearing the new colours, navy and blue, the original being grey.

It appears the Minister neither knew nor cared just how far matters had progressed before his bombshell struck the community that the promised funds would not be made available. Naturally, the Marist nuns considered the merger project then to be a dead duck. Very quickly thereafter the Christian Brothers came to the same conclusion, that without funding there could be no merger.

Can the Minister explain to me how it was deemed originally that approximately £1 million was required to convert a relatively new or modern school? I am talking about Coláiste Caoimhín on Parnell Road, Dublin, 12 which is approximately 25 years old, which was to accommodate the girls from the Marist school? How could such a building be deemed to be structurally unsound?

If the Minister does not agree now to pursue the amalgamation with the necessary determination and vigour the parish of St. Bernadette will lose not only two second-level schools but the very existence of their two primary schools will be threatened. One might well ask: why? The reason is that most parents prefer their children to attend a school where their education will not be interrupted between primary and second-level, such interruption involving hassle for the children and parents who will have built up relationships between their student friends and teaching staff.

I hope the Minister, in responding, will not inform me that there are 1,028 surplus places in second-level schools in the area, that the children can attend the vocational education committee schools — which is not where they want to go — or that they can go to the CBS school at Drimnagh Castle, the School of the Assumption in Walkinstown, St. Paul's at Greenhills or Loreto College, Crumlin. At present those four schools are overcrowded with long waiting lists of students endeavouring to gain entry.

In an effort to rectify matters I appeal to the Minister to meet the parents' committee and representatives of the parents of the area, to work out with them a satisfactory solution.

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Mr. F. Fahey)

In responding to the matter raised by Deputy Byrne I must point out, first that my Department indicated to the school authorities that the level of grant-aid being sought for the work envisaged would not be available in 1991 but that the Department were prepared to keep the matter under review.

It might be helpful to sketch the background to this case in order to illustrate that the increased costs involved prevented my Department from giving a firm commitment as to when grant-aid would be available. The amalgamation of those schools was raised in 1988. Initially the plan envisaged was to base the amalgamated school in the boys' school. However, when it emerged that it would require almost £1.5 million it was evident that such costs could not be justified for a combined school of just over 400 pupils and the expectation that such numbers would fall.

In such circumstances an evaluation was prepared of the likely cost of basing the school instead on the girls' school site. In June 1990 the Department indicated that such a development could proceed on the basis of providing the minimum additional accommodation that might be required. This was established to be accommodation not exceeding £150,000 in cost. It was emphasised to the school authorities, at a meeting held in the Department, that the provision of the accommodation must be kept within the specified costs limits.

When costings for the work were received from the schools' consultants the figures were far in excess of what were approved — £287,000 for new accommodation and £115,000 for work to existing buildings. At a meeting in the Department the school authorities were informed that the costings were far in excess of what had been agreed and that the Department could not allow the project to proceed on that basis. Apart from the fact that such sums had not been budgeted for in the Department's financial planning, the question of whether such a level of expenditure would be justified at all would have to be examined. The level of expenditure indicated was not acceptable. Therefore, the school authorities were informed that grant-aid would not be available in 1991.

I must stress that, while the Department wish to facilitate this amalgamation on educational and economic grounds, they contend it would not constitute priority for funds in view of the extreme shortage of capital for school work and the fact that, first, the schools' enrolments are declining, second, the schools — especially the CBS — occupy accommodation in excess of their requirements and, third, in view of the many other urgent priorities facing my Department.

In the general area comprised of Crumlin and Drimnagh there is a large amount of surplus accommodation due mainly to declining numbers of pupils at primary level. Even after the closure of these two schools there will remain a surplus of accommodation. In the circumstances I am satisifed that no undue inconvenience should arise for pupils and parents in the areas concerned. I might add that nothing the Deputy has said this afternoon convinces me of the contrary. Given there are so many priorities, some in the Deputy's part of the city, I consider it reasonable that this proposal should not hold the order of priority the Deputy advocates.