Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I am glad the Senator has given me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position of the Department of Education and Science on this issue. The Minister for Education and Science is fully conscious of the issue raised by the Senator.

Lucan is the fastest growing area in the country. As a result, there has been a marked increase in the demand for school places, particularly at primary level. In order to meet this demand the Department of Education and Science has taken steps to increase the capacity of existing schools in the area by way of the provision of permanent and temporary accommodation. Building projects have recently been completed at Scoil Aíne junior school and St. Thomas's senior school to increase the capacity of each of these schools to 16 classrooms. Construction of the new Lucan Educate Together national school will be finalised for September this year. The capacity of the school will be 16 mainstream classrooms with an autistic unit. The Department is also arranging for the installation of a prefabricated unit at Archbishop Ryan national school. This unit will be installed over the summer and available for September.

A new school, Griffeen Valley Educate Together national school, was established in the Lucan area in September 2002. The school is currently located in the Scout Den in Lucan village, which accommodation is insufficient to meet the school's needs for September this year. In this regard, officials of the Department are in communication with the school authorities with a view to having alternative accommodation in place for September.

As the Senator is aware, the local authority, at the Department's request, reserved a site in the Griffeen Valley area for primary school purposes. The Department has instructed the property management section of the Office of Public Works to enter into negotiations with the owners with a view to acquiring the site. The Senator will appreciate that in view of the commercial sensitivity of the site acquisition process I am not in a position to comment further on the matter at this time. However, at this stage, it is not expected that the site will be available for the forthcoming school year.

Primary provision in the Lucan area, in particular south Lucan, will continue to be monitored by the Department. At post-primary level the Department has already responded to the demand for additional school places in Lucan by approving major extensions at two schools in the area, both of which are under construction. A new permanent building for Coláiste Cois Life is also in architectural planning.

The Senator will also be interested to note that following consultations with the Department, South Dublin County Council has also reserved a site for post-primary school purposes in the Adamstown strategic development zone. This is intended to assist in catering for the future needs of the Lucan area. It is expected that the measures outlined will alleviate pressure on primary and post-primary school places in Lucan.

The Seanad adjourned at 4.25 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 4 July 2003.