Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Accommodation.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

308 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will re-evaluate the level of school accommodation in the Lucan, County Dublin area in view of the fact that the projected population for the end of 2002 is 44,000, representing a doubling of the number of persons residing in the area in the space of six years; if a study on the school accommodation needs of Lucan was carried out in 1996 by the Commission on School Accommodation; and if he will refer to the Commission's findings. [13298/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The Deputy will already be aware that my Department has conveyed approval for a number of major school extensions at both primary and second level in the Lucan area. In recent years a new multidenominational primary school and an all-Irish community college in the area were given recognition by my Department. It is expected that these measures will significantly alleviate pressure for school places in Lucan in the short term.

A study on the school accommodation needs of the Lucan area was carried out by the technical working group of the Commission on School Accommodation. This report, which was intended primarily to inform the deliberations of the commission's steering group, was completed in May 1999. Among the points made in the study were that the increase in housing had not impacted significantly on existing schools in the area at that time; there was surplus capacity in some existing primary schools; and co-operation and enrolment management by the post-primary schools was optimising the use of available accommodation.

The study went on to recommend that sites for a primary and a post-primary school should be reserved in the Adamstown area and my Department has requested South Dublin County Council to do so.

I appreciate the Deputy's concern to ensure that Lucan retains the capacity to cater for all local first and second level pupils and I assure him that my Department will continue to monitor developments in the area on a regular basis.