Dáil debates

Thursday, 12 December 2019

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

School Accommodation Provision

5:00 pm

Photo of John LahartJohn Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her sympathetic response. I will feed it back and acknowledge the fact she will go back to the Minister. Citywest is also in my constituency. The Minister of Education and Skills should be aware that never mind that the site to which the school is proposed to be moved is 10 km away, it also creates difficulties for Citywest. Firhouse Educate Together national school and an education and training board national school occupy a temporary building while they await permanent buildings, which are almost complete. It is owned by NAMA and is earmarked as temporary accommodation for Citywest post-primary school, the patron of which has yet to be decided and that process is ongoing. This creates double the difficulties, never mind the distance.

I am heartened to hear that alternatives are being actively considered. I wonder about the dramatic meeting that departmental officials felt they had to have with the Educate Together post-primary school in Firhouse. It is clear from what the Minister said that these options are being considered by Educate Together.

I hope the Department engages quickly with those concerned. Firhouse-Ballycullen-Knocklyon is a rapidly growing area and it needs an alternative post-primary school. The area is currently served by four fine post-primary schools, including Sancta Maria college, Coláiste Éanna, St. Colmcille's community school and Firehouse community college, all of which are fine, excellent schools but Educate Together represents a different offering to the local community, building on the Educate Together and gaelscoileanna options already available to parents. It provides the choice in education for which we all yearn.

I am grateful that the Minister, Deputy Doherty, will bring my concerns to the attention of the Minister, Deputy McHugh, as a matter of urgency. I look forward to his reply and some good, positive news before Christmas for the community in Firhouse, Ballycullen and Knocklyon.

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