Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming at such short notice. I am raising the issue of school needs in north County Dublin because of the vast numbers of houses it is proposed to build in that area in the coming years.

It is estimated that the population of Swords will reach over 100,000 in the years to come. The hinterland towns of Rush, Lusk and Balbriggan are also growing at alarming rates. Parents in those areas are travelling long distances and future school needs must be addressed. The council is providing land in action plans but the old dual system of State and church provision in unison will not exist forever. In some areas of west Dublin, Educate Together is a force in the education system. We must plan for the future in north County Dublin, particularly in Rush, Lusk and Balbriggan.

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter and for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the actions being taken by the Department of Education and Science to address the school accommodation needs of Rush, Lusk and Balbriggan.

The Department is conscious that these areas of Fingal County Council are rapidly developing and, as a result, there has been a marked increase in population and subsequent demand for school places at first and second level. Underpinning its activities, the Department is working particularly closely with the council to develop a joint approach to the timely provision of schools in the Dublin 15 area. This work is likely to provide innovative approaches to partnership which I believe can be used to our advantage across the country in future. Officials in the school planning section of the Department are also in active discussion with school management authorities and patron bodies on the future requirements for primary school places in all three areas.

A substantial investment in temporary accommodation has been approved for September 2006 in response to applications from existing schools. Two classrooms and two special education rooms have been approved for St. Catherine's national school, Rush, and Lusk national school has been approved for three mainstream classrooms to cater for increased enrolment. The determination of the long-term needs of both these schools is currently under consideration to provide permanent accommodation solutions as soon as possible. Rush/Lusk Educate Together national school has received approval for an additional classroom to allow for the development of the school.

With regard to Balbriggan, in response to local area plans and in conjunction with Fingal County Council, the Department placed reservations on three sites for primary schools and two sites for post-primary schools. Officials in the school planning section of the Department are also in discussion with the Dublin archdiocese on the possibility of expanding the existing Catholic schools in Balbriggan where the school sites will allow.

In Balbriggan, a total of 13 new mainstream classrooms have been approved for five primary schools for September 2006 to cater for expansion. Earlier this year, the Minister for Education and Science announced that a new 16 classroom school would be constructed for Balbriggan Educate Together national school. Negotiations are almost completed on the purchase of the reserved site on which the Educate Together school is currently located. This site has the capacity to accommodate a 32-classroom campus, catering for in excess of 800 primary school children.

In September 2005, the Minister announced the provision of a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school for Balbriggan. This will be delivered by way of a public private partnership under the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2005-09.

The Department is currently in the process of preparing a development plan for the north Dublin/east Meath/south Louth area, including the areas of Rush, Lusk and Balbriggan. The draft plan is close to completion in the school planning section of the Department and it hopes to be in a position to publish it shortly.

Following this, a public consultation process will be carried out by the Commission on School Accommodation. The commission will produce a final area development plan shortly thereafter. This plan will provide a blueprint for educational provision in the area for the next decade against which all capital funding decisions will be made.