Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Morrissey for giving me the opportunity to outline on behalf of the Department of Education and Science the position on the Beechpark Avenue site in which the Castleknock Educate Together national school is located in temporary accommodation. The Department purchased the lands at Beechpark Avenue in 1983 to provide a post-primary school in the Castleknock area. At the time of purchase the site was zoned residential. Subsequently, a decision was made to build a school at Diswellstown and the site at Beechpark Avenue was no longer required for educational purposes. A motion to change thezoning of the site from residential to amenity was put to the local authority and despite the opposition of the county manager, it was passed.

Since 1985 St. Brigid's GAA club has been leasing the site on a temporary basis. The club has been refused a long-term lease. A deputation from St. Brigid's met with the previous Minister for Education and Science and it was agreed that an area of ground would be provided at the rear of the site to allow for its continuing use as a playing field by the club and other local and community groups. More recently, the Department gave permanent recognition to Castleknock Educate Together national school and decided to situate it on the Beechpark Avenue site, initially in temporary accommodation. The Department received planning permission from the local authority for the provision of an eight-classroom school in temporary accommodation. Senator Morrissey has suggested that this permission was granted on the presumption that there would be a permanent structure. It is now somewhat surprising to learn that this permission may not be forthcoming. However, I would like to make the point that this may be a verbal report, but the Department's consultants are currently preparing a planning application for a permanent school at Beechpark. As the application has not been lodged with the local authority, that body has not given a decision in the matter. However, I appreciate the parents are in shock and disarray at the suggestion, which hopefully is no more than that, that the site is not suitable for a permanent structure. A temporary permit was granted on the basis this would be a permanent structure eventually. I thank the Senator for raising the matter, and at the first available opportunity I will convey his strongly-held views to the Minister for Education and Science with a view to progressing this project.