There are 60 applicants currently on a waiting list for a first year place in Castleknock Community College next year. The school Principal has told Deputy Joan Burton, Labour Party TD for Dublin West, that there is no definite decision yet regarding the 60 applicants still on the waiting list but noted that parents and teachers in the school are not in favour of increasing the numbers of enrolments as they believe it would lead to overcrowding and decreased educational standards. A special meeting of the schools Board of Management in March is to decide the issue.

Deputy Burton said, “Over the last decade, Castleknock Community College has obtained marvellous results every year and huge numbers have progressed to third level colleges.”

“Despite over 10,000 new homes being built in the area over the last decade, there has been no new post primary school built in Dublin 15 for more than 10 years. Castleknock Community College and Hartstown Community School were built when Labour was last in office – but nothing since.”

“Along with other secondary schools in the area, Castleknock Community College is now facing an annual crisis to find places to meet the demand.”

“There are plans for a new secondary school in Phibblestown under the patronage of the County Dublin VEC, which is to be a 24 classroom school catering for 1,000 pupils. The Chief Executive Officer of the VEC has informed me that construction on this school is due to commence in 2009 so on the current schedule it will be many years before the school opens its doors to local students.”

“The Minister for Education recently told me in reply to a parliamentary question that the Department of Education is examining the need for an additional second level school in Castleknock.”

“I am calling on the Minister to fast track the construction of the secondary school in Phibblestown and bring forward the opening of the school to September 2007. The Minister needs to urgently give the go ahead for the development of another second level school in Castleknock so that a Board of Management can be quickly set up and the design and construction process begun.”