Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - School Accommodation.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

801 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, taken in his Department to plan for the provision of secondary schools places in Dublin 4 and 6 area in view of the changing demographic profile of the population; if his attention has been drawn to the concern many parents have regarding the maintenance of the existing level of secondary school places, for girls in particular, in the Dublin 4 area; if his attention has further been drawn to the concerns many parents have expressed to the boards of management of the existing secondary schools of the need to provide safe forms of transport to and from the schools for female students having regard to increased levels of danger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17230/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

My Department has no application at present for the provision of additional post-primary school places in either the Dublin 4 or Dublin 6 area.

In the past year, two secondary schools, one in each of the above areas, indicated to my Department their intention to close. This is because the future viability of these schools could not be sustained due to declining enrolments.

The planning section of my Department reviewed available second-level accommodation in the general area at that time and concluded that there were sufficient places available to cater for pupils affected by the closure and for future enrolment needs.

Accordingly, I have no plans at present to provide additional post-primary school accommodation in the Dublin 4 and 6 areas. However, if any school is experiencing accommodation difficulties, my Department would be prepared to examine the circumstances of the case.

I appreciate the concerns of parents regarding the safe transportation of pupils to and from school. The position is, however, that school transport in the Dublin area is generally operated within the network of public scheduled services under the remit of Dublin Bus, which has responsibility for all aspects of the service, including safety.