Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting with regard to the sequence. Parents have in the past sought that children would be able to continue in co-education. There were discussions and there will always be discussions among parents if there is no co-educational school on site. That is not where this decision came from.

Ms McDonagh mentioned the boards of management and the principals, but some of them changed their minds as the process went along.

They changed their minds because, when presented with a fait accompli, one has no choice other than to embrace what exists. That is why the boards of management and the archdiocese are looking at the Dominican campus. Basically, they and the parents were given an ultimatum in the letter sent out yesterday. The De La Salle Brothers are saying: "That is it - we are out of here. Away with you to the Dominican campus in 2015." I do not think it is good enough for the De La Salle Brothers to do that. I am not blaming the De La Salle Brothers - I think they have done a great job over the years - but I find it strange that all of sudden they are saying: "Forget about this. We have a site here and we will sell it or we will do whatever with it." They have not indicated anything to the local community. By the looks of it, they have not indicated to the archdiocese what their future intentions are regarding an area that is zoned for educational use and is ideal for the future of education in Ballyfermot. I find it strange that there does not seem to have been any intense contact with the De La Salle Brothers to try to persuade them to stay and play a role. It is possible to amalgamate schools without amalgamating the buildings or the campuses. The amalgamated campuses could be shared. There are three buildings in the De La Salle complex. Some of them could be closed until the numbers grow in the manner suggested by the census.
If this is a fait accompli, approximately 1,000 pupils will turn up on the doors of the Dominican school in September 2015. If the building project goes ahead, as I hope it will, those pupils will also see a building site. Otherwise, all of these children will be pushed into overcrowded classrooms. There are not enough classrooms to facilitate an amalgamation. The architect has been out. With the best will in the world, the Department does not move quickly enough to allow a PE hall and all the ancillary facilities we have mentioned to be built by September. There will not even be space for prefabs. At this stage, somebody needs to ask the De La Salle Brothers whether it is possible to continue to rent or lease the buildings from them on a long-term basis. If they want to divest themselves of their interest in education in Ballyfermot, perhaps they will allow the Dominican Order or the bishop himself to lease the buildings and the playing fields for the foreseeable future. Anyone who visits these sites - I hope the members of the committee take up the offer to do so - will see that the Dominican campus is quite an enclosed space. It might have the size that Ms McDonagh is talking about. As the De La Salle Order has open spaces - grass playing fields - on which children can play hurling or soccer, a PE hall will not necessarily be needed immediately. I accept that every school should have a PE hall. If the De La Salle Order is not willing to accommodate the patron, is there a role for this committee in encouraging the Department of Education and Skills to move to get possession of that land to facilitate the community of primary schools that will still be in the area, albeit on a reduced site?