Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 May 1993

Vol. 136 No. 3

Adjournment Matters. - Proposed School at Glanmire.

Mr. Kelleher

I thank the Minister for taking time to hear my views on secondary school funding for Glanmire.

This situation affected me and currently affects 400 pupils in the Glanmire area. Every day 400 pupils travel by bus from the Glanmire/Riverstown area to secondary schools located almost 20 miles away. I understand the Minister, Deputy Bhreathnach, has met several deputations to discuss this issue.

The problem, I believe, is that the Department, when compiling its statistical analysis, includes Glanmire in the city area. As the student population in Cork city is declining it concludes that there is no need for a secondary school in Glanmire. However, Glanmire has been classified as a satellite town in the new county development plan and that suggests that Glanmire should not be included in the city area.

Other satellite towns around Cork, such as Ballincollig and Carrigaline, have adequate secondary school facilities. This situation has continued for too long. Property was bought by the vocational education committee in 1981 to build a secondary school. However, because of local opposition it was decided to move the school to Ballincollig. The Government said it would wait until people decided what type of school they wanted in Glanmire. Unfortunately, before they had decided the Government withdrew funding.

I attended a national school in this area, but I had to attend boarding school miles away because there was no public transport to these schools. This problem is affecting 14,000 people. The population is rising and Glanmire has been designated a satellite town. It has development potential, and a secondary school is required. This has serious implications for the community. A satellite town must have a closely-knit community if it is to be successful. There are five national schools in the immediate vicinity. Young people grow up together and become involved in various activities. However, at the age of 12 and 13 friends are torn apart because they must go to boarding school or travel 20 miles a day to secondary school. They see each other only at social functions. This is the sad reality. This situation is having an adverse effect on the closely-knit community. They are proud to live in a rural area and although there is a large population, they do not see themselves as an urban community. I am not saying they have difficulties relating to city people, but they want to remain in the area where they were brought up.

I urge the Minister to make funding available. I have made my case and I hope the result will be a positive outcome. I understand funding from the Department of Education is scarce but this case must be given consideration because 400 pupils are bussed every day to seven or eight secondary schools. I ask the Minister to make funding available.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Hyland)

I thank Senator Kelleher for raising this matter. It gives me an opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Bhreathnach, to outline the position in this area.

The Riverstown-Glanmire area is approximately six miles from Cork city and for accommodation and transport purposes it is considered part of the Cork city catchment area. There is an all-Irish post-primary school in Glanmire. Apart from this school, the vast majority of primary school leavers from the area attend schools in Cork city, Carrigtohill, Carrignavar and Midleton.

In April 1991 departmental sanction was given to County Cork Vocational Education Committee to purchase a site for a new second level school in Riverstown in view of the then anticipated population growth in the area. The timing and size of the school was to be decided at a later stage. The vocational education committee has purchased a site for the school and has been pressing the Department to allow building of the school to proceed.

The planning section of the Department of Education regularly reviews the second level facilities in Cork city and environs based on the most up to date primary and post-primary enrolments. During the course of the most recent review carried out, the information presented by the Riverstown—Glanmire Second Level School Committee in a submission made to the Minister for Education at a meeting in Cork last February was also taken into account. The conclusion reached however, was that the establishment of a new second level school in Riverstown-Glanmire is not warranted at present.

The following points are relevant in this context. First, in the past five years the total number of primary pupils in County Cork and environs has fallen by 3,534 — 14 per cent — and the trend is continuing. Second, the level of spare capacity in second level schools in Cork city is increasing. Third, Cork city has had one of the largest falls in birth statistics in recent years. In 1980, 2,653 were recorded and in 1991 the figure was 1,522, a decrease of 43 per cent over the 11 years.

Fourth, in March 1988 an interdepartmental committee concluded a "Review of Policy for the Provision of New and Replacement Accommodation for Primary and Second Level Schools". One of its recommendations was that, in major urban areas, consideration of an application from any school or area for new accommodation must have regard to the accommodation situation, actual and projected, within reasonable access of the school or area. This recommendation has relevance for the Riverstown-Glanmire area.

Fifth, it is expected that pupils from the Riverstown-Glanmire area may experience inconvenience in attending the second level schools of their choice. However, this situation is not unique to the Riverstown-Glanmire area and, in itself, is an insufficient reason for providing a new post-primary school. Revised arrangements were put in place in January 1991 to include the second-level schools in Midleton as designated schools for transport purposes for the Riverstown-Glanmire pupils. Reaction to date from parents and schools has been favourable.

Sixth, given the limited financial resources available to the Department of Education, priority must be given to those building projects which will cater for the areas with the greatest need. Given the stability in numbers at primary level, Riverstown and Glanmire cannot be considered as priority areas in this regard.

The Department of Education will continue to monitor closely the situation in Riverstown-Glanmire in the light of the most up to date statistics available for the area on demographic trends, housing developments and primary school enrolments.

Mr. Kelleher

This reply concentrates on the schools situation in Cork city. I agree that Glanmire is a satellite town, six miles from Cork city but the figures suggest that there is no need for a secondary school in Glanmire.

The existence of an all-Irish school in Glanmire does not change the fact that another secondary school is needed. People from the Gaelscoileanna in Cork city attend this all Irish secondary school. There are few local people in Coláiste an Phiarsaigh.

The Minister said the parents and school authorities are happy about the transport arrangements to the designated schools in Midleton. Of course the schools authorities are happy because they will receive the pupils but unfortunately, the school which is most needed has not yet been built. I would appreciate it if the Minister, Deputy Hyland would convey this fact to the Minister for Education.

Mr. Hyland

I will convey the views of Senator Kelleher to the Minister and I have no doubt she will communicate with him.

The Seanad adjourned at 8.40 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 13 May 1993.