Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

467. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on purchasing school property (details supplied) in Dublin 12 when it goes up for sale shortly. [10003/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While my Department has no plans at the moment to acquire the school in question, it is currently engaged in a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation may be needed from 2016 onwards. The area where the school is located is included in this review. When this exercise has been completed, arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

Should a new school be required for the area in question, the model of provision will be determined by an open patronage determination process overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group.

In the meantime, I understand that the school in question is closing on a phased basis. In this regard, it did not enrol first year students for the 2014/15 school year. I also understand that the school will remain open so that the current cohort of junior and senior cycle pupils can finish their programmes. The school authority has informed my Department that it is assisting parents in securing alternative placements for the remaining pupils to ensure a smooth transition for these pupils to another school.

The Deputy may wish to know that the area concerned has 9 post-primary schools and there is spare capacity in a number of these schools at the moment.