Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, with an opportunity to outline to the House the Department's position regarding the demand for post-primary places in the Lucan area and how this demand is being met.

The four post-primary providers in the immediate Lucan area have a combined capacity of 3,000 places. The combined enrolment of the schools in September 2007 was 2,531 pupils. Therefore, there is current surplus capacity of some 470 pupil places. In addition, two other schools adjacent to the south Lucan area, namely, St. Kevin's community college and Collinstown Park community college, have considerable spare capacity which can be availed of. Apart from this, the Department has plans to increase capacity at two of the schools in Lucan: Lucan community college and St. Joseph's college.

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 the immediate post-primary needs of the Lucan area can be met. Having said that, the Department has asked South Dublin County Council to identify a site for further post-primary provision and it is the Department's intention to develop this site, when acquired, commensurate with any additional demand for pupil places.

The Senator will be also be aware that Adamstown, which is adjacent to Lucan, is the subject of a strategic development zone, SDZ. The planning scheme for the SDZ, 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, that is, a maximum of 1,800 housing units, a primary school of eight classrooms or a post-primary school of 12 classrooms must 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. The plans for this campus comprise two 16-classroom primary schools and a 1,000 pupil post-primary school. The first of the primary school buildings opened in September 2007 and the second primary school will open shortly. The timing and extent of this development means that primary provision for the area is ahead of demand. Now that the primary school provision is in place, the emphasis has shifted to the delivery of the post-primary school, which the Department intends to provide commensurate with the phasing arrangements under the SDZ scheme. This new post-primary school may be of assistance to the Lucan area pending further provision if the need arises.

Through increased investment under the national development plan and the improved planning and delivery processes we have put in place in recent years, the Government will ensure the need for extra school places is met wherever it arises. Areas such a Lucan are kept under continual review for this purpose.