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

This is an important matter. Parents in Ballyfermot were shocked last week when they learned by way of letter from the De La Salle national school that it proposes to amalgamate with three other national schools in the area, namely, St. Raphael's national school, St. Michael's national school and St. Gabriel's national school. The original De La Salle school was built in 1952, which is around the time the new estate of Ballyfermot was built. There were three schools under the De La Salle brothers at that time, including Scoil Íosagáin, Scoil Sheosaimh and Scoil Mhuire, which over time amalgamated into one school. Two of the schools amalgamated in 1981 and the third school was amalgamated only two years ago, which then became De La Salle national school. I accept pupil numbers at the school have fallen. However, there are currently 292 pupils in the De La Salle school, almost 200 in St. Gabriel's, more than 200 in St. Raphael's and almost 300 in St. Michael's, which when combined means the new structure will have more than 1,000 pupils, which is a substantial amount of young people.

Parents are concerned at the possible loss of the school buildings owned by the De La Salle brothers and school properties, including playing fields and so on, which have served the young children of Ballyfermot since 1952. The reason given by the Diocesan authorities is that it is disinvesting from the school, which is to be welcomed. I am not opposed to that. The concern is in relation to the suddenness of the decision.

Were the Department and the Minister aware of the change that was taking place in Ballyfermot? As far as I know, Department officials had a meeting with the church authorities in February, when the disinvestment was agreed. Were concerns raised at the time about the school buildings and structures and whether this eventuality would affect the teaching in what would be left in those schools? We need to ensure there is no overcrowding at the three schools run by the Dominican order, that the pupil-teacher ratios in those schools are not affected, and that there are no job losses. The key to all of this is that the land owned by the De La Salle brothers is not sold to an outsider and at the very least, that the buildings and the land be transferred to the Dominican order. I would like to see it transferred to the State.

I urge the Minister of State to respond positively to this change to ensure people in Ballyfermot can rely on the best possible educational outcome, which means the best possible educational campus. That is available in the existing campuses and with the existing structure.

See this speech in context