Update: New Secondary Schools in D15?

I recently asked our party leader, Trevor Sargent TD, to submitt a question to the Minister for Education regarding the lack of secondary school places in Dublin 15. I attach the question and the Ministers reply below.

The response is disappointingly vague. Over the last few years, there have been major shortages of primary school places in Dublin 15, which have caused parents major distress in trying to ensure that their children can enter school. The figures clearly show that the same problem will happen in 2009 at secondary level when new schools like ETNS Castleknock and St Patricks in Diswellstown start to progress children to post primary.

In light of this knowledge, I believe the Department of Education needs to act now to secure sites for new secondary schools. We must avoid a school places crisis at second level in Dublin 15, similar to the one that occured at primary level.The existing failure of the Department to respond to the realities on the ground is one of the reasons why in our Policy on Urban Development published during the week, the Green Party stressed the need to create a ‘Strategic Planning Unit’ within the Dept. Education to respond to the school needs of growing areas.

249. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans she has, in view of the fact that in its submission to the oral hearing of the Hansfield SDZ appeal in November 2005 her Department stated that 4,000 post-primary school places were required in the Dublin 15 area, to provide new second level schools in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4534/07]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin): As the Deputy will be aware, I have given the go-ahead for the delivery of a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school in Phibblestown area of Dublin 15.
This new school will be delivered along with new schools in Donabate and Laytown under a design and build contract and the Department is working with the relevant parties on the delivery of these projects within the earliest possible timeframe.
In the Tyrrelstown area of Dublin 15 the Department has reserved a site for a further post primary school and it is examining site possibilities for a new post primary school in the Castleknock area with the local authority.
The educational reservation in the Hansfield SDZ allows for the development of a post primary school for up to 1,000 pupils. A project manager has recently been appointed to oversee the development of educational provision on the Hansfield site.