Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising the demand for post-primary places in the Lucan area and how this demand is being met. There are 12 primary schools in the Lucan area with a current combined sixth class enrolment of 501 pupils. In 2006, the four post-primary providers in the area had a combined first year enrolment of 481 pupils. Therefore, the demand for pupil places will only increase by 20 pupils in the new school year if all opt to attend schools in their immediate vicinity.

One of the post-primary schools, Coláiste Cois Life, only enrolled 68 first year students in 2006. This brought its total enrolment to 278 pupils. A new building was recently provided for this school and this building has an overall capacity for 600 pupils, so there are ample places available in this school. The Department will also shortly appoint a design team for an extension project for Lucan Community College. This project will generate another 200 pupil places.

Apart from this, the Senator will probably be aware that there is considerable vacant capacity at post-primary level in areas adjacent to Lucan. Given that it is practice, especially in Dublin, for post-primary students to travel some distance to attend a post-primary school, it is not unreasonable that the Department should seek to optimise the use of existing surplus capacity at post-primary schools in the general vicinity of Lucan as part of its strategy to address any shortfall for post-primary places that may emerge.

Therefore, taking the demand for post-primary pupil places in Lucan against the places available and the interventions recently made or planned, the Department is satisfied that current and future needs can be adequately met. The Department will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that any newly emerging needs are met as expeditiously as possible.

Adamstown is the subject of a strategic development zone. The planning scheme for the zone, which is endorsed by An Bord Pleanála, requires that housing and supporting infrastructure, including schools, be provided in a phased manner. It is a condition of the SDZ that at completion of phase 2, a maximum of 1,800 housing units, a primary school of eight classrooms or a post-primary school of 12 classrooms be in place. Subsequent phases require the provision of further school accommodation.

In compliance with the requirements of the SDZ, the development of a multi-school campus is well under way. When completed, this will comprise two 16-classroom primary schools and a 1,000 pupil post-primary school. The first of the primary schools is due to open in September 2007, with the second primary school opening shortly thereafter. I had the honour of turning the sod for both schools and their completion will take place expeditiously. The timing and extent of this development means that primary provision for the area is ahead of demand. Once the primary school provision is in place, the emphasis will shift to the delivery of the post-primary school to comply further with the SDZ phasing arrangements.

Throughout the planning for these schools, the Department has worked closely with South Dublin County Council and the developers to produce an integrated solution to education and community facilities that matches the delivery of new housing. The approach under the SDZ requiring schools to be in position ahead of or in line with demand is one which the Department thinks should be adopted by other planning authorities in major new housing schemes, and this is being brought to their attention by the Department in its regular contacts with them.

I thank the Senator for raising this matter and I assure her that top priority is given by the Department to needs in rapidly developing areas. In the lifetime of the national development plan, almost €4.5 billion will be invested in schools. This is an unprecedented level of capital investment which reflects the commitment of the Government to continue its programme of sustained investment in primary and post-primary schools. Through both increased investment under the NDP and the improved planning and delivery processes that we have put in place in recent years, the Government will ensure the need for extra school places is met.