Vol. 430 No. 3
7 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education her views on the fact that the north inner city of Dublin has for decades been educationally severely disadvantaged; if she will give details of the percentage of children there failing to complete second level education; and her views on whether there is an urgent need for a second level community college to meet the special needs of the local children.
My Department has classified the north inner city area as entitled to additional resources on the basis of disadvantage. The proposal for a new school there has a long history, which dates as far back as the early eighties.
The planning section of my Department is at this very moment focusing on the Seán McDermott/Summerhill area on the question of the provision of a new school. It is not clear that the projected numbers of second level students would justify the building of a new school, solely catering for second level pupils.
I accept that the second level drop out is a real problem in the north inner city and I believe this justifies targeting extra resources in existing schools. Consequently, 15 additional teaching posts above the norm have been allocated to the post-primary schools in this area.
Will the Minister accept that numerous reports and studies during the past 20 years have clearly indicated that the north inner city of Dublin is the most disadvantaged area in the State in terms of educational provision and attainment; that the number of children under 15 years of age who leave school is twice the national average; that the level of absenteeism from school is far greater than anywhere else in Dublin and that the participation rate of local children in third-level education is 1 per cent compared with a Dublin average of 15 per cent? Will the Minister further accept what every educationist in the area accepts, that this presents an appalling picture of educational disadvantage in the area in which the Department of Education is located and indicates that there is a need, particularly at second level, for a special school geared to meeting the needs of local children?
I accept that this is one of the black spots on the educational map. It is a source of concern that the participation rate in third-level is only 1 per cent but I am sure the Deputy shares my view that it is at second level we lost these children. There are intervention programmes in place which have been accelerated since this Government took office. We are intervening at the preschool level; expanding the home-school liaison programme, providing extra remedial teachers and extra capitation grants for children at primary level. There is a wide spread of second level schools in the area ranging, as the Deputy is aware, from Belvedere boys' school, a fee paying school which caters for 771 boys to a very small school with 140 pupils in the North Strand. The figures are falling and we have to ensure, if we are to invest capital, that we invest in something that will be of benefit to the community. I have examined the parish baptismal records — I am sure the Deputy would accept that most of the people within the area baptise their children — which show that the number of children baptised fell from 781 in 1981 to 566 in 1990. I agree that the participation rate of 1 per cent in third-level education will not increase unless we intervene at second-level. The pattern in the area is that the numbers go up and the numbers go down, some schools close and other schools were closed. Let me assure the Deputy that I have given assurances to the Deputies in the constituency that the matter is back on my desk for consideration.
The Minister referred to the limited resources available. Given the current constraints on funds for the school building programme, would she agree that it is a scandalous waste of public moneys and resources to spend in the region of £250,000 to £500,000 to relocate Scoil Chaoimhín in the north inner city against the wishes of parents, teachers and pupils, from a perfectly sound school building, when the money is so badly needed for the type of project that I have been calling on the Minister to initiate?
Because I share the Deputy's concern about this matter, the decision to relocate is again on my desk for consideration.
