Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

397. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) has closed its doors in summer 2016 and is no longer in operation; and if he will contact the patron board with a view to divest this school to his Department to secure it as a non-religious secondary school. [24574/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school, referred to, is privately owned and my Department is aware, that owing to the death of the school's owner in 2013, the school closed in June 2016.

The school did not enrol first year students for the 2014/15 school year. I also understand that the school remained open so that the current cohort of junior and senior cycle pupils could finish their programmes. The school authority informed my Department that it assisted parents in securing alternative placements for the remaining pupils to ensure a smooth transition for these pupils to other schools.

The Deputy may wish to know that the area concerned has 9 post-primary schools and there is currently spare capacity in a number of these schools. I am not aware of the school being offered to my Department for any educational purposes.