Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Jul 1996

Vol. 467 No. 7

Written Answers. - Van der Kamp Response to Bannon Report.

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

245 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education when she will honour the commitment she gave in Dáil Éireann on 29 November 1995, that a meeting to discuss the Van der Kamp response to the Bannon report would be arranged for members of the Knocklyon post-primary committee and local representatives in Dublin 16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14465/96]

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

246 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the Van der Kamp response to the Bannon report, which has been with her Department since the end of December 1994 and which was updated in March 1995 to take account of the then latest housing information, does in fact contain substantial additional information in relation to the case for a post-primary school in Knocklyon, Dublin 16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14466/96]

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

250 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education when she will reply to a letter (details supplied) from the secretary of Knocklyon post primary committee, Dublin 16 seeking a meeting to discuss the Van der Kamp response to the Bannon report as promised in a reply to Parliamentary Question No. 93 from Deputy Brennan on 29 November 1995; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14476/96]

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

251 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education the reason almost 200 registered letters from parents in Knocklyon, Dublin 16, requesting the construction of a post-primary school in Knocklyon, which were sent to her in June 1995, have not been replied to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14477/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 245, 246, 250 and 251 together.

The Deputy will be aware that, in early 1994, I accepted the recommendations of Dr. Bannon's report and decided not to proceed with the construction of a post-primary school for the Knocklyon area.

In light of the Knocklyon post-primary committee's response to the original report and the assessment carried out by Mr. Hendrik van der Kamp at the request of the committee, I asked that the position regarding the need for a school be re-examined by Dr. Bannon.

This examination, which was completed in January last, concluded that no new information emerged in either the committee's response to the original report, or in the assessment carried out by Mr. van der Kamp, which would justify a change in the decision. Dr. Bannon was satisfied that the latest information available was used to arrive at the conclusions and recommendations in his 1994 report and in his more recent review.

As I undertook in my reply to a question from the Deputy on 29 November last, a meeting, to explain the outcome of the review, can be arranged with officials from my Department. In that connection, I pointed out to the Deputy in the House on 20 June last that there is no record of a request dated 4 February, 1996 from the post-primary committee for such a meeting. I have since received a copy of the committee's letter and I am issuing a response, indicating that officials will be contacted with the group to make appropriate arrangements. However, I must stress to the Deputy that, in view of the extensive analysis of need carried out by Dr. Bannon as recently as last January, I would see the purpose of such a meeting as explanatory.

A large number of campaign-type letters were received in June, 1995 from parents and students regarding the provision of a post-primary school in Knocklyon. Subsequently, I asked Dr. Bannon to review the position and on 30 January last, as soon as he reported back, I advised all the Dáil Deputies in the constituency, including Deputy Brennan, of the position. I am satisfied that, in this way, all concerned with the matter were kept fully informed.