Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response and his commitment to ensuring the additional information I require will be forwarded to me as quickly as possible. My concern regarding the operation of temporary accommodation on the build site relates not only to building issues, but also to the question of how to maintain temporary access and the possible knock-on effect of such access. We need to have a full conversation around these issues to ensure any problems that arise are ironed out at an early stage.

In regard to the demographic study that was carried out of the catchment area, only Dublin 6 and Dublin 8 were included in that catchment area. In regard to the proposed secondary school on the Harold's Cross greyhound track site, there is an urgent need to incorporate Dublin 6W, including Terenure and Kimmage, into the consideration. Many of the local primary schools that will feed into the new school are in those catchment areas. It is not viable for a child in Terenure or Harold's Cross to travel to a secondary school in Sandymount, for example, on the coastal side of the constituency. There is an urgent need for clarity as parents of primary school children in the area are making decisions now as to where those children will attend at second level. The Minister of State indicated that a final review of demographics will be completed by the end of the year but we need clarity as to whether we are looking at a broader catchment area for Harold's Cross. Will all of Terenure and Kimmage and parts of Crumlin be included? That is the ultimate test for the viability of a secondary school there. Parents who have children moving into secondary school in the coming years are very anxious because there are so few places. There is a degree of panic as to whether they should be saving hard given that, as it stands, there are no secondary school choices in the area other than fee-paying ones. I would appreciate if the Minister could come back on those issues as soon as possible.