Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking this matter. I raise this issue on behalf of parents and residents within Dublin 8 who have a campaign seeking a secondary school in that area. Over the past number of years they undertook professional and fact-based surveys and analysis of the CSO as well as engaging with the community. Their findings are that in the area of Dublin 8 currently there are five secondary schools. That leaves a ratio of provision of secondary school places of 39 children for every one space in a secondary school within the Dublin 8 area. The same analysis conducted for Dublin 4 found there are 13 children for every one space. There is a disproportionate lack of provision for Dublin 8. The population of Dublin 8 has changed considerably over the past number of years. The five schools there are predominantly Roman Catholic or Church of Ireland, despite the fact that 53% of the people living there are of neither denomination. Therefore there is huge demand for having a non-denominational school, be that a Gaelscoil or an Educate Together which is not a Gaelscoil. Either would be fine.

When the Harold's Cross Educate Together was built, Dublin 8 was not deemed to be within that catchment area although proximity-wise it would have been closer than Sandymount Park Educate Together that was found to be in the catchment area. It is taking children up to 90 minutes to get to school at Sandymount Park. The statistics and everything about the situation clearly indicate there is a desperate need for a secondary school within Dublin 8. Sites have been proposed and suggestions put forward. I have engaged with the group. Recently, in a discussion with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, in a different context, the Minister reflected that there is a system within the Department of Education that is very good and accurate at looking at the provision and forward planning of secondary schools throughout the country. Somehow that system has failed within Dublin 8. It is not working. Whether the population rise has been so significant, I am not quite sure, but a recent academic publication looked at the disproportionate experience. Comparing urban or inner city areas with rural areas, the chances of a non-denominational school being available are considerably reduced. We should be investing all the more, especially in Dublin 8 with its mixed community. The community there statistically has not attained the same level of third level education and progression to third level education as exhibited elsewhere. This is all the more reason for having one now in order to progress. My Commencement matter is to establish why the Department of Education’s system, which is supposed to be robust, has not picked up on this.If it has, when can we have a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Foley, or an opportunity to progress with officials that the need for the school is established? Then we can have a discussion about what sort of school it is going to be but the need for the school must be established as a matter of urgency.