In response to Deputy Burton’s questions about the lack of school places for hundreds of children in Dublin 15, Minister Hanifin confirmed that there is no new policy in place to deal with this crisis.
Last years intensive lobbying resulted in a sticking plaster solution from the Minister of Education that squeezed children into classrooms at the last minute. In her latest response, the Minister outlines her plans to possibly create an extra stream of junior infants in local schools.
Deputy Burton said: “There is a clear and pressing need to commit to a full new primary school in the Ongar Littlepace area, to complete the permanent buildings for the Castaheany Educate Together Primary School which is currently based in temporary pre-fabs, to build an extra primary school in Castleknock and to provide a new secondary school in the Porterstown/Castaheany area to cater for families in houses that were built ten years ago in the area.”
“Stretching the capacity of existing schools in the area is not going to make this problem go away.”
Minister’s Response to Parliamentary Questions.
Uimhir:488
Ceist Pharlaiminte
Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn
to the crisis that has developed at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15
where over 100 children have been refused places to start school in September
2006; her proposals to immediately provide school places for the 8,000 new
homes that have recently been built in the Littlepace area; and if she will
make a statement on the matter.
– Joan Burton.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 4th April, 2006.
Reference Number: 12962/06
Freagra
Minister for Education and Science (Mary Hanafin, T.D.)
At the outset, I want to say that I am fully conscious that the Dublin 15 area
as a whole is one of the most rapidly developing areas in the country and, as a
result of this, there has been a marked increase in the demand for school
places, particularly at primary level.
My Department is taking a number of measures to increase the capacity of
existing schools in the area concerned along with the development of new
schools to meet this growing demand.
A building project to provide a new building for the particular school to which
the Deputy refers was completed in September, 2005. To further increase
capacity at the school, my Department approached the Board of Management in
2005 to discuss the possibility of expanding the school to cater for a four
stream intake at junior infant level. The Board agreed to this measure. To
facilitate this expansion, my Department purchased additional land adjacent to
the school which will enable the construction of an additional 16 classroom
school to meet the school’s permanent accommodation needs. This new building
has a target delivery date of September, 2007. In the interim my Department
has appointed a consultant architect to oversee the provision of temporary
accommodation at the school to meet its immediate needs.
The area in question is also served by an Educate Together National
School. A project to provide a new building for this school is underway with a
target delivery date also of September, 2007.
In the interim my Department has arranged that the school will continue to
occupy temporary accommodation at Littlepace.
I am confident that a combination of the measures outlined will assist in
alleviating the demand for pupil places in the area for the foreseeable
future. However, due to the current level of demand emanating from the Dublin
15 area, the need to provide even further school accommodation is under
consideration and my Department is engaging with the key school Patron authorities that are active in the area.
Uimhir:489
Ceist Pharlaiminte
Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science
To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn
to the crisis that has developed at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15
where up to 100 children have been refused places to start school in September
2006; her proposals to immediately provide school places for the 5,000 new
homes that have recently been built in the Diswellstown and Castleknock area;
and if she will make a statement on the matter.
– Joan Burton.
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 4th April, 2006.
Reference Number: 12963/06
Freagra
Minister for Education and Science (Mary Hanafin, T.D.)
At the outset, I want to say that I am fully conscious that the Dublin 15 area
as a whole is one of the most rapidly developing areas in the country and, as a
result of this, there has been a marked increase in the demand for school
places, particularly at primary level.
My Department is taking a number of measures to increase the capacity of
existing schools in the area concerned along with the development of new
schools to meet this growing demand.
The school referred to by the Deputy has recently moved into a new 24 classroom
school and this will facilitate an annual 3 stream junior infant intake
However, as an exceptional matter the Board of Management is in discussions
with the School Planning Section of my Department regarding the possibility of
enrolling a fourth stream of Junior infants this year to cater for increased
demand.
In parallel with this, my Department is currently in discussions with a second
school in the area regarding the possibility of it expanding to cater for an
annual four stream intake. The school currently has an intake of 3 Junior
infant classes. A building project to provide permanent accommodation for this
level of expansion will be afforded the highest priority
I am confident that a combination of the measures as outlined will assist in
alleviating the demand for pupil places in the area in the short term.
However, due to the unabating increase in demand for pupil places, the need to
provide even further school accommodation is under active consideration in my
Department.