Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State. I sit on school boards, as the Minister of State probably does or has done. I am aware of the matter of duplication. This is why we have presented the data in its baldest form. Duplication is not an issue. I know it sometimes is an issue in other towns but it is not an issue in Portmarnock.

The development and provision of a large new school building for Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together is very welcome but it will not solve the issue with regard to Portmarnock alone. The enrolment policy of Educate Together is not geographically based. The school will serve kids in Malahide, Kinsealy and Portmarnock. The new estates being built in the south end of Portmarnock right beside the train station are high density, as I outlined. There is a very young population. A greenway is being built from Baldoyle through Portmarnock, going up the village on its way. It will be a wonderful active travel facility. This is a natural place for parents to be able to walk, cycle or scoot their children up to the existing St. Marnock's primary school, or a little further on to St. Helen's. This is why it is about the provision of capacity in the village, which is where these houses are.

When applying for planning permission for these houses, the developer mentioned up to eight schools in the area that could cope with the increase in children these houses would bring. However, the vast majority of these schools are not in Portmarnock and have enrolment policies that preclude children from these estates attending. There are schools in Sutton, Howth and Bayside. This is a very serious issue and we have compiled the data. I will send it to the Minister and I ask the Minister of State to do so also. We will be back on this issue. It is different from other areas, which is why I am setting it out here. With a bit of planning it could be resolved by the Department.

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