Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Astonishingly, during the past two and a half years, this is the fourth time that I have been obliged to raise the issue of the historic Greendale community school in my constituency of Dublin North-East as an Adjournment matter. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for always facilitating me in this regard.

Around the time of the devastating announcement that Greendale community school was to close, I urged the then Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to ensure that the school would remain open. Unfortunately, however, my plea fell on deaf ears at the time. Amazingly, when I raised the issue with the current Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, the same situation applied. At the time of the closure announcement in 2004, I described it as a terrible body blow to both Kilbarrack parishes in Dublin North-East. The closure's aftershocks are still being felt and unless the campus is retained for community and educational purposes, there will be a hole in the heart of the community.

The principal, Mr. Anton Carroll, and his wonderful teaching staff during the past 32 years should be commended warmly for their exceptional work for the people of Kilbarrack and its environs, as well as for the inclusive ethos for which the school was so famous. It also had an extremely distinguished staff of hard-working teachers during those years, including the great Irish novelist Roddy Doyle, the great playwright Paul Mercier and the iconic Dublin football star, Brian Mullins, all of whom served at length. Consequently, it was not surprising that two and a half years ago people became distraught at the news that the school would close.

Local residents in the Greendale Road district of Foxfield St. John's parish are extremely concerned regarding the future of the campus. Throughout Dublin North-East, it is feared greatly that the campus might somehow end up in the hands of a developer, thus resulting in a completely inappropriate high density high rise development in which profit, rather than the needs of the people, is the only criterion. Throughout Dublin North-East, massive high rise and high density developments are still under way. I have raised this issue in the House previously. The 2006 census returns measured a change from population decline to the beginning of an increase in population. Is it still possible that this school might be required for first or second level education uses?

Another great feature of the school is that it is still home to approximately 1,000 students on adult education programmes. Greendale has always been a second chance gateway to third level education through its association with Trinity College, Dublin. It carries out extremely valuable work and in an era of lifelong learning, the campus could have a future in the area of third level education.

It has also been a critical community resource over the years. Groups such as Kilbarrack and District Residents Association, the Kilbarrack Community Development Project, the Kilbarrack resource centre and many other groups, including our two great local clubs, Naomh Barróg GAA club and Kilbarrack United football club, have all used the facility. Hence, when I last raised the issue, the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Brian Lenihan, stated that he would examine all possible uses. The key wish is that greedy developers' hands should be kept off the campus.

I wish to raise a final possible use for the campus. It has been noted that in areas of Dublin with low third level participation rates such as Tallaght and Blanchardstown, the establishment of institutes of technology resulted in a dramatic rise in participation rates. I represent a postal district that has the second lowest national participation rate in third level education. Is it possible to consider the Greendale campus as the planning and development centre for a new institute of technology on the north side? While its central campus could be located on the north fringe, an allied college could be established at Greendale. I call on the Minister to convene urgently a meeting between officials of the Department of Education and Science, the constituency's three Deputies, namely, the two Fianna Fáil Deputies and myself, the five local city councillors, all the local Kilbarrack local development projects and the Northside Partnership. Its purpose would be to consider finally what must be done regarding the future of this campus, because only five or six months remain in which to so do before the school's final closure.

A picture appeared recently in a local newspaper of the principal, Mr. Anton Carroll, some of his staff and parents. It was sad for all concerned to realise that the end of this era approaches. It is the community's wish that the campus should remain in use for community and educational purposes. I urge the Minister of State and the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, to sanction this move.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, to outline to the House the current position with regard to the planned closure of Greendale community school, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.

Greendale community school was built in 1975 to accommodate 800 pupils. The school expanded quickly to exceed its enrolment capacity. An extension to bring the school's capacity up to 900 pupil places was provided in the early 1980s. In line with demographic changes in the area, the school has experienced a steady decline in enrolments in recent years. Since 1996-97, enrolment has declined by 50% from 449 students to 215 students in the 2003-04 school year.

Greendale community school is located in the Howth deanery, a unit of 13 parishes in the archdiocese of Dublin. The school made an application to the Department of Education and Science for capital grant aid in 1999 for major refurbishment works. A feasibility study commissioned by the Department estimated that an investment of €2.4 million was required to address the remedial works necessary. In the circumstances, the Department did not consider that the level of capital investment required was a viable option. However, grant aid was made available to ensure immediate health and safety issues at the school were addressed.

The Department held meetings with the trustees in 2003 to discuss the future of the school because there did not appear to be adequate pupil numbers in the locality to enable it to regenerate. The trustees advised the Department in March 2004 that a decision had been taken to close the school in June 2007 and that there would be no further intake of pupils from September 2005. The Department of Education and Science concurred with this decision.

When Greendale community school closes in 2007, ownership of the school property, which is currently vested in the trustees, will revert to the Department. In the period leading up to the closure of the school, the Department will consider all available options in regard to the future use of the school property. I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter.