Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue as it gives me a chance to provide an update to the House on the current position on the recently announced closure of Newpark Academy of Music.

Newpark Academy of Music is a separate entity and simply does not come within the remit of the Department of Education. It has operated from Melfield House, a 200-year-old building on the grounds of Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock. The building has hosted the academy since 1979. Whilst the academy used the building on this property that is in the ownership of the Minister for Education, the academy itself does not fall under the remit of this Department. The Department is aware of the recent decision by the board of the academy to cease operations. The Department's understanding is that this decision has been based on operational and financial concerns. The Department was not involved in any decision to close the Newpark music school. It is a stated policy of the Department to encourage and support the use of school facilities for wider community and recreational uses, where appropriate. Only yesterday we published revised procedures around that. We really want schools to be open to other entities and facilities, of which this is an example.It should be underlined, however, that the primary role of the Department of Education is to cater for and deliver primary and post-primary educational needs locally. It is important to recognise the distinction with regard to the academy, which is a completely separate entity from the Department and the school.