Olwyn Enright
Ceist:166 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the lack of school places in the Dublin 15 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19366/03]
Written Answers. - School Placement.
Olwyn Enright
Ceist:167 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is inadequate secondary school provision at a Castleknock community college; the way in which he intends to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.
My Department has recently been made aware of a situation relating to a number of pupils who have not been allocated a place at Castleknock community college, Dublin 15, for September 2004. The position in the Dublin 15 area generally is quite complex because, while some schools in the area are full to capacity, others are in a position to offer places. Department officials will make contact with all of the schools concerned to determine how the anticipated difficulty in September 2004 can be averted and to reiterate the need for a co-operative enrolment process in the area.
The need for additional second level places in the developing areas of Dublin 15 i.e. Hansfield, Littlepace and Castaheany has been considered in my Department and, as a result, a six hectare site has been reserved for educational purposes in the Hansfield SDZ area. A time-frame for acquisition of the site and the development of educational facilities thereon will be dictated by a number of factors, including the rate and pace of housing developments and the availability of capital funding.