School Closures.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2004

Tuesday, 25 May 2004

Ceisteanna (159)

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

174 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to keep Greendale community school in Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, open in view of the fact that there has been speculation that the school (details supplied) is to close due to falling numbers; if his attention has been drawn to the excellent standard of teaching at the school, with many students going on to third level for the first time in their family’s history and the value to the wider community in its service in adult education. [15312/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The trustees of Greendale community school have notified my Department that a decision has been taken that the school should close. The timing of the actual closure has yet to be determined.

Given the pattern of falling enrolments at the school, together with surplus capacity in the general area, my Department concurs with the trustees' recommendation. The Department's main role in a school closure is to ensure that the best interests of the pupils are looked after in the period up to the closure and that alternative provision is available to accommodate the pupils who would have ordinarily attended Greendale community school.