Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will engage with the parents, local community and planning section of Dublin City Council to assess the educational needs of children currently attending a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8 and future needs in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19906/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers is privately owned and managed by the Christian Brothers. In recent weeks the Order took a decision to close the school with effect from the end of the current school year.

I am already on record as saying that closing the school at such short notice is an extremely unusual decision which is understandably very upsetting and distressing for the parents, staff and pupils involved. It also put my Department in a very awkward position in relation to obtaining alternative placements for the pupils in question for next September.

Having said that my Department pressed on with its efforts to ensure that an orderly closure would ensue. Thanks to the co-operation of another school in the area, I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that this has been achieved. The school in question will now close on a phased basis over the next year.

Given that the decision to close the school was taken by the Christian Brothers, it is a matter for them to inform their parents and staff of the precise details of the new arrangement which will take effect from next September. I understand that this process has commenced.

I want to take the opportunity to record my thanks to the school which is assisting in the new arrangement. It is no easy task for any school to re-organise itself at any time much less with a minimum of notice. I greatly appreciate the willingness with which the school engaged with my Department in this matter and I am happy to provide it with the resources necessary to implement the new arrangement.