Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)
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I am glad of the opportunity to discuss the need for the Minister for Education and Science to recognise the urgent need for a secondary school in south Lucan in light of the growing population in the area, and the figures available to her Department of primary school children in the area who will require a second level place. The Minister and her departmental officials should meet the south Lucan secondary school action group to address this need.

Earlier this week, I met representatives of the south Lucan secondary school action group which was formed to highlight the overwhelming need for a secondary school in south Lucan. I wish to bring some startling statistics to the Minister of State's attention. In 1996, the total population of the Lucan-Esker electoral division was 7,451. As of 2006, the number of children aged up to 14 years in the same electoral division amounted to 7,547. According to the census, the population in the Lucan-Esker electoral division increased by 347% between 1991 and 2006. It is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. Based on these figures, if the Department of Education and Science does not act urgently to meet the need for a second level school in south Lucan, we will see there the first crisis in the country in terms of secondary schools places.

This year, the Minister and her Department saw the results of inaction in school planning to meet demographic demands concerning primary schools in rapidly growing communities. Should the Minister fail to act on the need for a secondary school for south Lucan she will see a similar problem emerging in that area. There are a number of primary schools in the locality, including Archbishop Ryan's national school, Lucan Educate Together school and Griffeen Valley Educate Together school. Where does the Minister propose these children should go when they complete their primary schooling? Does she believe it is fair there is no second level school based in this large community?

The county council's view on meeting this requirement can only be described as piecemeal and disappointing. It is based on the idea of sending a portion of the students to one school, while sending others to another and so on. A large amount of travelling is involved, although the area's transport problems are well known. At present, young people must travel all over Dublin city to secondary schools, with the resulting destruction of a sense of community among south Lucan students and their parents. I have met the teachers involved in placing these children in secondary schools and they are upset by the complete disruption to the sense of community that has already developed in those primary schools.

Furthermore, there is no assurance that the existing secondary schools can cope with such an increase in enrolment. The departmental officials should examine the figures that have been put together by the south Lucan secondary school action group. The figures are thorough and based on the numbers of children currently in primary schools there. The major increase in pupil numbers warrants another secondary school for south Lucan. The idea of sending young people to secondary schools all over the place is not a solution; it is a cop-out. It represents a failure by the Minister and her Department to provide for the second level educational needs of this rapidly expanding community.

Will the Minister arrange for her Department to work with the south Lucan secondary school action group and all interested parties to examine this matter? They should not do so with eyes closed, stating that enough places are already available. They should re-examine the issue because their figures are inaccurate. Such co-operation and liaison should take place as soon as possible. I hope to see the Minister in my constituency to turn the sod on the grounds of this much needed second level school in the near future. I am grateful for the opportunity to have raised this important matter on the Adjournment.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, with an opportunity to outline to the House the Department's position regarding the demand for post-primary places in the Lucan area and how this demand is being met.

The four post-primary providers in the immediate Lucan area have a combined capacity of 3,000 places. The combined enrolment of the schools in September 2007 was 2,531 pupils. Therefore, there is current surplus capacity of some 470 pupil places. In addition, two other schools adjacent to the south Lucan area, namely, St. Kevin's community college and Collinstown Park community college, have considerable spare capacity which can be availed of. Apart from this, the Department has plans to increase capacity at two of the schools in Lucan: Lucan community college and St. Joseph's college.

Taking the demand for post-primary pupil places in Lucan against the places available and the interventions recently made or planned, the Department is satisfied that the immediate post-primary needs of the Lucan area can be met. Having said that, the Department has asked South Dublin County Council to identify a site for further post-primary provision and it is the Department's intention to develop this site, when acquired, commensurate with any additional demand for pupil places.

The Senator will be also be aware that Adamstown, which is adjacent to Lucan, is the subject of a strategic development zone, SDZ. The planning scheme for the SDZ, which is endorsed by An Bord Pleanála, requires that housing and supporting infrastructure, including schools, be provided in a phased manner. It is a condition of the SDZ that at completion of phase 2, that is, a maximum of 1,800 housing units, a primary school of eight classrooms or a post-primary school of 12 classrooms must be in place. Subsequent phases require the provision of further school accommodation.

In compliance with the requirements of the SDZ, the development of a multi-school campus is well under way. The plans for this campus comprise two 16-classroom primary schools and a 1,000 pupil post-primary school. The first of the primary school buildings opened in September 2007 and the second primary school will open shortly. The timing and extent of this development means that primary provision for the area is ahead of demand. Now that the primary school provision is in place, the emphasis has shifted to the delivery of the post-primary school, which the Department intends to provide commensurate with the phasing arrangements under the SDZ scheme. This new post-primary school may be of assistance to the Lucan area pending further provision if the need arises.

Through increased investment under the national development plan and the improved planning and delivery processes we have put in place in recent years, the Government will ensure the need for extra school places is met wherever it arises. Areas such a Lucan are kept under continual review for this purpose.