Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My matter concerns many children in Gaelscoil Teach na Giúise in Firhouse, Dublin 24, who do not have a permanent school building. The school is accommodated in Tymon Bawn Community Centre which is not suitable. Originally, when the school was accommodated there, it was informed it would be out of there by the end of 2013. The date was then pushed forward to June 2014 but it still has not moved. I have been speaking to staff and parents on this matter. We understand the Department and South Dublin County Council are sourcing sites for the school, as well as for the Firhouse Educate Together school, but it has taken a long time. I accept local community needs have to be taken into account such as the provision of sporting facilities and so forth. I know the Department and the council have had difficulties in this respect and do not want disadvantage one sector of the community.

As the school has only a few rooms in the community centre, this has led to uncertainty for parents about enrolling their children in the school, as it essentially cannot physically expand in its current accommodation. Parents are now asking where their children will attend if the school cannot secure permanent accommodation. It is important that certainty is brought to this matter without delay. Using community halls as classrooms, furthermore, deprives certain elements of the community of the use of the hall for sports and so on. In effect, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is subsidising the Department of Education and Skills by providing community buildings for schools that were never meant as schools. The school in question must share communal facilities such as toilets with the general public which is not satisfactory or ideal. We have seen a fine new school open in Knocklyon. The secondary school, however, is not large enough to deal with the catchment area of the feeder school.

I had a similar Adjournment matter down for the Educate Together school in Firhouse some time ago. I am interested to see if the reply has changed. I was informed private as well as public sites were being sourced. Is there any more information on that?