Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
298 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the proposed new school for Scoil Mhuire Fatima NS, Dublin Road, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5894/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra299 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has for the amalgamation of primary schools in the county of Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5895/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together.
There are two primary schools serving St. Mary's parish in Drogheda, County Louth, namely, Scoil Mhuire Fatima NS and St. Mary's boys school. Both schools have submitted applications for major capital grant aid. These applications were examined in the school planning section of my Department in the context of overall primary education requirements in the parish.
Having considered all the relevant factors, the conclusion of my Department is that primary provision in the parish can be best served into the future by the provision of two new co-educational schools, one catering for junior cycle pupils and the other catering for senior cycle pupils. I understand that there is a site available in the ownership of the parish which could accommodate this development.
On being informed of my Department's decision, the respective boards of management have been asked to engage in a process with the local education partners to facilitate the re-structuring of the schools. Officials in the school planning section of my Department are available to assist the boards in this regard if necessary. When this process has been completed, arrangements will be made to provide the required supporting educational infrastructure as quickly as possible.
The school planning section of my Department is not currently actively pursuing the amalgamation of any schools in County Louth. However, as I recently announced, over the remainder of this school year a new school planning model involving published area development plans will be piloted in five areas. Included in the pilot scheme is the north Dublin-south Louth region which covers the Drogheda area.
The purpose of this new approach to school planning is to ensure that, in future, the provision of school infrastructure will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, parents, trustees, sponsors of prospective new schools and all interested parties from a locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process. Following the consultation process, individual plans will set out the blueprint for schools development in an area covering a period of up to ten years.
