Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The matter I wish to raise this morning is the future of Newpark Academy of Music in Blackrock, which has been a staple of musical education south Dublin for 45 years. It was founded in 1979 and is a really important small, effective, efficient, and incredibly well-renowned music school on the grounds of Newpark Comprehensive School on Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock. In May, this school closed and nobody seems to be able to divine why exactly that happened. It is a charity and it is something that has worked very well. It has been in operation since 1979. It had 600 students, 42 members of staff and was, on the face of it and as far as everyone could see, a very effective school. It had generated so many people as graduates of the school. One thinks of big names like Hozier and big names in music like drummers Rory Doyle and Sean Carpio, and singers like Aoife Doyle and Lauren Kinsella. Anybody who liveds in south Dublin will know of academy and many of them will have learned instruments there. It has been a vital pipeline for musical education, not just in Blackrock and south Dublin but in that wider Dublin and eastern regional area. It was a school of great accomplishment and great reputation.

In May, a decision was made without notice to anyone that the school would cease trading and would close. In fairness to the 600 students and their 42 members of staff, they have been left without answers and there are a number of questions they cannot get answers to from the board or from the people who are managing the school. It is grossly unfair on them. Importantly, it also shuts down that vital pipeline of musical education for Blackrock.

Music is really important as something that is available to people to learn. It obviously has massive benefits beyond the actual enjoyment of music. Music matters and the Newpark Academy of Music matters but it seems that the people who are involved in the academy simply do not have answers. I will put two specific questions to the Minister of State. The lease is owned by the Department of Education. The building in which the academy currently operates is leased to them by the Department and only the Department can take away that lease. I do not know what the status is of that lease and nobody can find out.

The second issue is that, as I understand it, no notification was made to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the 42 staff who are to be made redundant or what procedures will be put in place for them. Perhaps most puzzling of all for everyone is the rationale for closing this school. It appeared on the face of it to be so successful and so busy with 600 students. Why can it not be preserved as a going concern? If it is the case that there is financial difficulty or organisational difficulty, or whatever it might be, the Department of Education must step in to safeguard this school because if the Newpark Academy of Music closes it shuts off a way in which parents can bring extracurricular activities for their children and a whole collection of potentially hugely successful musicians will essentially be prevented from gaining a quality music education as they have been doing for a long number of years in Newpark.

I do not necessarily expect the Minister of State to have the answers today because I know he has kindly come in to answer this matter but can these questions be answered about the lease and about the status of the employees? More importantly, will the Department stand its ground and protect those people who are seeking musical education to provide them with a facility in line with its remit and step into the breach if that is what can be done? Whatever happens, let us save Newpark Academy of Music and the future musical education of the people of Blackrock. Let us ensure that when music matters, Newpark Academy of Music also matters.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As I said, I am grateful to the Minister of State for coming in. I know that he is acting on behalf of the Minister for Education, but I really think that answer is not good enough. It is not enough for the Department to wash its hands and say we are not specifically responsible and that it is a separate remit. As the Minister of State said, the responsibility of the Department is to provide education at primary and post-primary level. Music is part of education. The provision of musical educational facilities are tremendously important. It is not okay for the Department to wash its hands and say it can do nothing. The Minister of State may not be able to answer the question I have today, but I would be grateful if he would bring it back to the Minister, Deputy Foley. Does she accept that this is an important part of the musical educational infrastructure in Dublin? If so, is the Department willing to step in? We have no answers to the questions about why it is actually closed. If there are financial issues, would the Department not help to solve them? Would the Department not help to save Newpark Academy of Music when it knows the good it does, knows the educational benefit it has to everybody involved and knows that it is a mainstay of musical education in Blackrock? It is part of its remit, whether it is primary or post-primary. Primary and post-primary students as well as adults go to that school. It is not good enough for the Department to wash its hands.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I fully understand and appreciate the concerns the Senator raised. That said, the decision to close the academy was not made by the Department of Education. The academy is not in any way under the remit of the Department of Education. The role of the Department of Education is to support, fund and deliver primary and post-primary education in the State. This is the update as far as the Department of Education is concerned. As I understand it, the Department has no further information with regard to this situation.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ward for raising what is a very important issue. Education and the opportunity people have to learn music is wonderful. I thank the Minister of State for his time this morning. We realise how busy he is. His time is appreciated here.