Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

As the Minister indicated to the Deputy on 23 June 2009, the patrons of the school in question have informed my Department that they will be closing the existing school in 2012. When trustees or a patron body decide to close a school, the Department's main concern is to ensure that the best interests of the pupils are looked after and that there will be sufficient student places in existing schools in the general area for students who would have normally enrolled in the closing school.

Given the budgetary constraints and the timescale involved, it was not possible to construct a new post primary school building in advance of the closure referred to by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has agreed in principle to enter into a lease arrangement for the existing school building and site. It is my intention that departmental officials will consult with the relevant stakeholders regarding the issues of patronage and the other practical arrangements relating to the establishment of the new school entity as soon as the leasing arrangement has been finalised.

Pending the establishment of the new school, the existing school will continue to operate under its existing management and admissions model. In the longer term, the purchase of a site and the construction of a new school building is the intended solution for this location. However, this must have regard to the availability of financial resources. At this point, it is not possible for me to indicate when a new school building will be ready for occupation.

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