Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is correct in so far as he talks about the population of the area. In fact, that is why the expansion in the number of primary school places was so significant. Twelve primary schools now operate in the Lucan area. This has served to meet the needs to which the Deputy referred.

Site acquisition is the first issue to be addressed. We have asked South Dublin County Council to identify a site for us. Once that is done, we will be able to proceed with the planning of the school. The building projects for the other schools will progress also. I refer to the expansion of Lucan community college to provide 200 extra places and St. Joseph's College. I thank, in particular, the principal of St. Joseph's College, Siobhan Corry, who agreed to increase the number of student places to 1,000. I also thank the principal of Lucan community college.

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