Vol. 493 No. 5
238 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a site for an all-Irish secondary school following an application by An Fochoiste Meánoideachais and the CDVEC; the outcome of the meeting between officials of his Department and representatives of An Fochoiste Meánoideachais and the CDVEC on 3 June 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16617/98]
The application from An Fochoiste Meánoideachais and City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee for an all-Irish postprimary school proposed that the school should operate on a site adjacent to Scoil Neasáin in Artane. The suitability of this site, even as a very temporary location for an educational facility, was in question because of its very small size. There is a significant amount of surplus accommodation in postprimary schools in the north-east of Dublin and, in the circumstances, it was essential that the possibility of using existing accommodation for an all-Irish postprimary facility should be fully explored before any other option was considered.
In this regard meetings have been ongoing during the year between officials of my Department and representatives of An Fochoiste Meánoideachais and City of Dublin VEC. At the meeting held on Wednesday, 3 June, it was made known to An Fochoiste Meánoideachais and City of Dublin VEC that my Department had no difficulty in approving, in principle, the provision of a school but that there appeared to be practical difficulties with regard to the site and suitable accommodation. My Department will review the suitability of the proposed site. It is now accepted that it will not be possible to make suitable arrangements for second level education through Irish in Dublin north-east for the coming school year.
