Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 210: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to implement all or any of the findings of the McCarthy report into education provision in County Laois, when he intends to make a decision on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15644/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Dr. Tom McCarthy was appointed as facilitator to assist in the development of a long-term plan for primary and post-primary school provision in the Portlaoise area. His recommendations indicated, inter alia, that educational provision at post-primary level required to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Following the release of Dr. McCarthy's report, the key priority for my Department was to tackle the post-primary educational infra-structural requirements of Portlaoise. This issue assumed an even greater importance in the wake of the decision of the Patrician Brothers to withdraw from delivery of education at Ballyfinn. Accordingly, my Department fully adopted the recommendations of Dr. McCarthy's report in relation to post-primary schools.

In this context, the Deputy will be aware that plans for the construction of a new school for Portlaoise vocational school are included in the published 2004 school building programme. A site has been acquired for the new post-primary secondary schools in the town.

Officials on my Department are now concentrating on the needs of the national schools in the town. Officials recently visited each of the schools in the town in recent months to assess the current situation in regard to changing demographics. While my officials are satisfied that there are adequate places for primary pupils in the town, they will keep the matter under constant review.