School Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 May 2012

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Ceisteanna (61)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

59 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the demographic need for a modern building for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow, has been clearly demonstrated and that failure to deliver such a building discriminates against parents who have opted to have their children educated through Irish; his further views on whether in attempting to establish a pluralist system of education at second level the inclusion of gaelscoileanna must be a core element of his strategy. [25776/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

My Department is examining the long-term projected pupil levels for this school in the context of the correspondence on this matter provided by the VEC and the school. As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011 I announced that 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to cater for increasing enrolments. Of the 17 new schools to be established by 2014, three will be gaelcholáistí, to these will be located in the Dundrum and Balbriggan areas of Dublin and in the Carrigaline area of the south side of Cork city. As part of the new criteria, I announced that in cases where there is insufficient demand to warrant the establishment of a new gaelcholáiste, it will be an option for the new English-medium second level schools to operate an all-Irish aonad within the school if there is sufficient parental demand for such an aonad.