Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

Rationalising the provision of secondary education is a demographic imperative. Despite the rapid increase in our population, demand for secondary education is considerably lower than it was in the late 1990s. This is attributable to the sharply declining birth rate from 1983 to 1994. The number of births in 1983 was approximately 75,000, while the number was less than 48,000 by 1994 after ten years of continuous decline.

The children in this cohort are now 11 years of age and about to enter secondary education. There are 17,000 fewer children entering secondary education compared with ten years ago. We have an immediate slump in demand, which is unlikely to increase in the foreseeable future to the level that prevailed in the past. There is an irrefutable case for rationalisation. Many schools are no longer viable because they are not of sufficient size to offer the kind of subject choice or the desired variety of course levels — foundation, ordinary or higher. These schools are also unable to offer the junior certificate school programme, the leaving certificate applied programme and the leaving certificate vocational programme. If every student is to have access to the subjects and courses that best suit his or her aptitudes, interests and aspirations, he or she must be in a school that is adequately resourced. The prevailing pupil-teacher ratio dictates that only large schools can offer a comprehensive range of subject levels and courses.

Rationalisation is therefore inevitable and desirable, however, it should be carried out strategically. Leaving the demise of schools to the sole criterion of enrolment numbers is unwise. There is a plethora of schools with declining enrolments in my own area of Dublin, although it is politically unwise for me to say so. None of the 14 second level schools serving north-east Dublin is full to capacity. There are over 9,000 secondary school places in the area but only approximately 6,000 pupils.

The closure of one third of these schools is realistic, if not inevitable, although I will never live down having said so. However, communities must be consulted about such closures. Schools which operate under a broad remit and provide adult education and a comprehensive range of courses, programmes, subjects and social interventions, must be preserved in preference to narrowly-focused schools which are selective, exclusive, disinterested in the social dimension of education and only open for six hours a day over the 167-day school year.

The Minister of State is aware that schools are expensive utilities which are provided and funded by the Exchequer. It is not unreasonable to allow communities to have access to and receive services from them for a greater part of each day and throughout the year. This is sufficiently reasonable to merit being a sine qua non in determining school closures.

I was dismayed to learn that one of the schools targeted for closure in my area is Greendale community school. This school caters for over 1,000 adult students and its facilities are open to the public seven days a week on a year-round basis. It is widely recognised for its innovative and student-friendly teaching methods and has an extraordinary catalogue of accomplishments and an international reputation for its pedagogical initiatives. It is short-sighted folly to close such a school.

The Department of Education and Science has dissociated itself from the decision to close the school but the trustees only delivered the coup de grace after they were invited to do so by the Department. It appears they had little choice but to fall on their own swords.

I accept that the decision to close the secondary school function in Greendale community school will probably not be reversed. However, I trust that the premises, which are State-owned, will remain dedicated to community development through adult education and community recreational programmes. Kilbarrack is a disadvantaged area with virtually no amenities other than those provided by local football clubs and Greendale community school. I call on the Minister of State to ensure that the school is left in the service of the community of Kilbarrack.