Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. The reply deals with the planned closure of Greendale community school in Kilbarrack.

Greendale community school was built in 1975 to accommodate 800 pupils. The school expanded quickly to exceed its enrolment capacity. An extension to increase the school's capacity to 900 pupil places was provided in the early 1980s. In line with demographic changes in the area, the school has experienced a steady decline in enrolments in recent years. Since 1996-97, enrolment has declined by more than 50%, from 449 students to 215 students in the 2003-04 school year. Current enrolments in primary schools in the area indicate that this decline will continue.

The school applied to the Department of Education and Science for major capital funding in 1999. A feasibility study commissioned by the Department estimated that an investment of €2.4 million was required to address the remedial works necessary.

Greendale community school is located in the Howth Deanery of the Dublin archdiocese. The general decline in enrolments in this area has resulted in spare capacity of an estimated 2,300 places at post-primary level. In the circumstances, the Department did not consider that the level of capital investment required was a viable option. However, grant aid was made available to ensure immediate health and safety issues at the school were addressed.

Subsequent to that, officials from the Department of Education and Science held meetings with the trustees to discuss the future of the school because there did not appear to be adequate pupil numbers in the locality to enable it to regenerate. The Department was concerned about the ability of the school to offer a broad and balanced curriculum given the relatively small number of pupils enrolled.

The trustees advised officials in the Department of Education and Science in March 2004 that a decision had been taken to close the school in June 2007 and that there should be no intake of pupils in September 2005. The Department concurred with this decision.

Ownership of the school property is currently vested in the trustees. This will revert to the Department when the school closes. I assure Deputy Broughan that the Department of Education and Science is open to considering any proposals made to it with regard to the future use of the building. Furthermore, in common with all educational facilities, any need for the retention of the building for alternative educational provision will be explored before any decision is taken on its disposal. I thank the Deputy again for raising the matter.

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