Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity of outlining to the House the actions being taken by the Department of Education and Science to address the school accommodation needs of the Dublin 15 area.

The Minister for Education and Science is conscious that the Dublin 15 area is one of the most rapidly developing areas in the country and, as a result, there has been a marked increase in the demand for primary school places. The 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. All building projects arising from these are awarded a band 1 priority rating under the Department's prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects to ensure they are delivered as expeditiously as possible.

The position on recent and ongoing developments in the provision of school accommodation in the Dublin 15 area is as follows. A new 16 classroom school for Mary Mother of Hope national school in Littlepace opened in September 2007. A new school for Castaheany Educate Together is on schedule to open for September 2008 and a new school for St. Benedict's national school is set to follow for September 2009. Extension projects for primary schools in Castleknock, Blanchardstown and Corduff are also being progressed. In the Diswellstown area, St. Patrick's national school moved into a new 24 classroom school last year. This will facilitate an annual three stream intake. In addition, St. Mochta's national school was expanded in 2006 to cater for an annual four stream intake. An extension to cater for this development has been progressed to architectural planning. A site has been secured for a new school for Tyrrelstown Educate Together national school and the building will be provided as soon as possible.

A new State model community national school, under the patronage of the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee, is to be piloted in Phibblestown from September 2008. This will initially provide accommodation for an eight classroom school, to be expanded up to 24 classrooms as need is assessed. The Department conducted a survey of all primary schools in Dublin 15 to determine the number of junior infants who enrolled in September of 2006 and 2007. This survey indicated considerable numbers of children applied to enrol in more than one school. While this is understandable from parents' point of view, it has the result of inflating the number of children apparently seeking places.

Notwithstanding this, the Department of Education and Science is aware of the accommodation demands for September and is addressing this requirement. I can assure the Deputy that all options will be considered to ensure there are enough school places in September. This may include the provision of school transport if necessary.

Due to the level of demand emanating from the Dublin 15 area, the need to make further provision at primary level in addition to that outlined above is being kept under review by the Department. To this end the Minister for Education and Science has established a developing areas unit, headed by a principal officer, whose sole focus is to ensure that significant pupil places will be available in such areas of demand. The Minister is confident that the measures outlined will assist in alleviating the immediate demand for pupil places in the area.

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