Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 520: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in setting up a community college in Charleville, County Cork which would combine schools (details supplied). [18405/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The schools referred to by the Deputy are two of three post primary schools serving the needs of the area in question, two of which are voluntary schools and a vocational school. On foot of an application for capital investment in this school, officials in School Planning Section of my Department carried out an examination of all the relevant factors such as current and projected enrolment, demographic trends and the likely impact of ongoing and proposed housing development in the area.

This examination indicated a downward trend in pupil enrolments in the longer term. The possibility of a single school to cater for the long term needs of the pupils of the area was raised with the trustees of the three post primary school for their consideration. While no final decision was taken at the time, the matter has been raised again recently with the trustees in order to inform a decision on how best to provide for the postprimary educational needs of the area into the future. The accommodation needs of the school referred to are being considered in this regard.