Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1043: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the two new VEC national schools in Dublin 15 will have catchment areas; the way the boundary of these catchment areas will be decided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2244/08]

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

As the Deputy will be aware, I announced in December 2007 that the new state model of community national school, under the patronage of County Dublin VEC, is to be piloted in two locations from September 2008. It is intended that the new schools will be opened in the Phoenix Park and in Phibblestown. A further school, in Diswellstown, Dublin 15, which opened under the temporary patronage of the Catholic Church in September 2007, is to transition to the new community national school model after a two year period.

Detailed implementation work is now under way for the opening of the two new schools under the new model from next September. This is being overseen by a steering group involving the VEC and officials from the relevant sections of the Department. As part of the implementation process, the precise catchment areas for the new schools will be defined at an early stage after consultation with other schools and interested parties in the area.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1044: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on splitting the Dublin County VEC into smaller areas to match the current local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2245/08]

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

I have no plans to restructure County Dublin VEC in the manner referred to by the Deputy. Section 35 of the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 2001, provided a mechanism whereby the Minister for Education and Science could, in the period preceding the local elections of June 2004, vary by regulation, the boundaries of the Dun Laoghaire Vocational education area, as set out in the Vocational Education Act, 1930, to become co-terminous with the area of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown county area, as established under the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1993.

Following consultation with both County Dublin VEC and Dun Laoghaire VEC, my predecessor as Minister decided to make no order under section 35. This provision in the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 2001, has now lapsed.