Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, is here this evening to respond to this issue concerning the land in Harold's Cross which was purchased by his Department during the summer and the purpose for which that land will be used by it, which is an important issue for the people in my constituency and beyond.

The Minister will be aware that a number of years ago his Department approved the opening of a new post-primary school to service the Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 postal districts. It has been communicated to the persons involved in the new school that the school will open in September 2018. As the Minister will no doubt be aware, following a patronage process announced by his Department in early 2016, Educate Together was approved the patronage of the new secondary school. Since then, in May of this year it was announced that the Department of Education and Skills had purchased the former greyhound track in Harold's Cross and it is to be used to accommodate new schools. In terms of this Topical Issue, I am asking the Minister to consider the use of the land in Harold's Cross to accommodate the new Educate Together secondary school. It is a priority in the area that this school is constructed as soon as possible.

For the purpose of determining whether a new school was required, the Department carried out a report on the patronage of the school and what catchment area was suitable for a new school. As I said, it was concluded that a school was needed to serve the Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 areas. Taking that area of land, the meeting point in terms of the areas to be covered by the new school is an area near my constituency called La Touche Bridge. It is the centre point of the catchment area. In terms of the land available at the former greyhound track in Harold's Cross, it is the ideal location for the new school as it is only 1.4 km from La Touche Bridge. I suggest that it would be an ideal location. It is important that steps are taken to establish a new multi-denominational, co-educational, non-fee paying secondary school in the area. Many of the secondary schools in the area are single sex fee paying schools. They are all excellent schools but there is limited choice for parents who wish to send their children to a non-fee paying school or a secondary school that is multi-denominational and co-educational.

I understand that Educate Together has done a considerable amount of work in respect of assessing the demand for this school. The demand exists. There is ample land at the former greyhound track to facilitate construction of a school and playing fields. There is an urgency around this issue in light of the announcement that the school will open in September 2018. There are many stands beneath the former greyhound stadium that could be converted to classrooms on a temporary basis. I urge the Minister to give consideration to constructing the new school on this land, which is in the centre of the catchment area, has been purchased by his Department, and would be hugely popular in the area.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate that he cannot give a definitive answer in respect of whether the land will be used for this Educate Together secondary school, but I would urge him and his Department to bear in mind that a decision should be made on this as soon as possible. The Educate Together secondary school is due to open in September 2018. That is what the Department had indicated. As a result of that, the patronage and the parents have indicated that it is already heavily subscribed. It is already fully subscribed for its first year with a significant waiting list. That reflects the level of demand and the necessity for such a school in the area. I urge the Minister to take that on board in order that decisions can be made on a prompt basis.

The new secondary school will ultimately provide up to 1,000 secondary school places. I note what the Minister said about the intention being to perhaps house a primary school and a post-primary school there. That would be an excellent idea. There is a significant amount of land available there in an area of Dublin where it is hard to get land. There would be a benefit in having a primary and post-primary school together but there is no reason that cannot occur with the Educate Together secondary school using that site on a temporary basis. It would only start off with one year there and the works could be done at the same time.

I know that individuals associated with this school are concerned about the fact that a decision has not as of yet been forthcoming from the Department as to where the school will be based. I have spoken to Vanessa Barcroft, a representative of the school, who is anxious to ensure that it is up and running as soon as possible. Educate Together is also anxious and is awaiting confirmation from the Department on the location of the new school. As it is the case that the school is to open in fewer than 12 months but no confirmation has been received to date as to its location, it is incumbent upon the Department to communicate with the patron and the individuals involved.

This is a hugely positive project. It is enormously supported by people in the locality, the Harold's Cross council, which looks after the issues affecting Harold's Cross. It would be a great development for the future. I urge the Minister not to let the potential for an Educate Together school to be on that site to be lost. There is an opportunity for that but we need to align the timings so that it can happen.