Blog covering Roderic’s local election campaign in the Castleknock/Blanchardstown ward
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02/05/07
The fact that it will have taken 15 years to build a new secondary school in Dublin 15 has been described as a national scandal by Green Party Dublin West candidate, Roderic O’Gorman. He was speaking in light of responses from the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, to questions put down by the Green Party in the Dail, which reveal a complete lack of urgency on the part of the Minister in addressing the need for post primary schools in Dublin 15.
“I had questions asked in the Dail about progress on 4 secondary schools in Dublin 15; Phibblestown, a new school for Castleknock/Blanchardstown, Tyrrelstown and Hansfield. The responses were hugely disappointing. In Phibblestown, where a secondary school is needed for 2008, the Minister stated that ‘it is envisaged that the school will be completed as close as possible to the 2009/2010 school year’. As such, it looks likely that students will have to move into accommodation for the first year, and that’s assuming that the school is actually completed on time. The last secondary school built in Dublin 15 was Castleknock CC in 1995. This means that when Phibblestown is finally completed, there will have been a 15 year gap since a secondary school was built in our area. This at a time when our nation’s economy was at its most successful and the population or our community was rising fastest in the country. I can only describe this situation as a national scandal”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.
“The situation is even worse in the Castleknock/Blanchardstown area. Despite the fact that Castleknock Community College was oversubscribed by 60 students for next year, and will be even more so by 2009, the Department of Education is merely giving ‘consideration’ to a new school in the area. I think the time for giving ‘consideration’ for a new school passed long ago – what we need now is action – secure a site, appoint a principal and begin the planning process”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.
“Looking at Tyrrelstown, where the Educate Together National School still doesn’t even have a permanent site, Minister Hanafin stated that a site for a secondary school has been reserved in land that it subject to a Local Area Plan. However, the Minister then goes on to say that the Local Area Plan will identify the exact location of the site. How can she justify saying a site has been reserved when no one knows where it is? This is more evidence if ever we needed it of the disastrous lack of planning for education that has afflicted Dublin 15”.
“At a recent meeting on schools in Littlepace, I asked Brian Lenihan to bring Mary Hanafin out to Dublin 15 to meet with schools groups and the Dublin 15 Community Council so she could educate herself on the scale of the problem out here. Unfortunately it looks like the Minister is content to continue to ignore the problem. However, I don’t think Brian Lenihan or Fianna Fail will be able to ignore the anger they are going to face on the doorsteps over the next few weeks”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.
Ends
Text of Dail Questions put to Mary Hanafin by Trevor Sargent TD.
953. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the
progress made towards opening a new secondary school in the
Phibblestown/Ongar area; when such a school will be built; when such a
school will open; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[15273/07]
Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin): I propose to take
Questions Nos. 887 and 953 together.
I have given the go ahead for a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school in
Phibblestown, Co. Dublin. This new school will be delivered along with
new schools in Donabate, Co Dublin and Laytown, Co. Meath under a design
and build contract that is aimed at delivering 3,000 school places for
these rapidly developing areas. The inclusion of these three projects in
one bundle will further facilitate the achievement of value for money.
My Department has appointed Project Managers to oversee the delivery
of these projects and they are currently arranging for the sites to be
surveyed. The procurement process is well advanced for a Design Team to
do the initial design of these 3 new schools. Thereafter, a Design and
Build contractor will be appointed to complete the designs and build the
new schools. My Department is working closely with County Dublin
Vocational Education Committee on the delivery of the Phibblestown
project. Assuming there are no delays during the design and planning
permission phases, it is envisaged that the school will be completed as
close as possible to the 2009/2010 school year. The provision of
temporary accommodation to enable the school to open at an earlier date
is currently under consideration.
954. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the
progress made towards opening a new secondary school in the Tyrrelstown
area; if a site has been located; the stage negotiations for the
purchase of such a site are at; and if she will make a statement on the
matter.
955. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the
progress made towards opening a new secondary school in the
Castleknock/Carpenterstown area; if a site has been located; the stage
negotiations for the purchase of such a site are at; and if she will
make a statement on the matter. [15275/07]
956. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the
stage the proposed new secondary school for Hansfield is at; and if she
will make a statement on the matter. [15276/07]
Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin): I propose to take
Questions Nos. 954, 955 and 956 together.
Sites have been reserved for post primary schools in both Tyrrelstown
and Hansfield and consideration is being given to the development of a
further post primary school in Castleknock. The land where the reserved
site in Tyrrelstown is located is the subject of a Local Area Plan.
This plan will identify the exact location of the site. When this is
known, the Department will be in a position to move to purchase.
The reserved site in Hansfield is governed by regulations attaching to
the Hansfield SDZ. The Department has appointed a project manager to
oversee the development of a Master Plan for the site in consultation
with the local authority. When the Master Plan has been finalised to
the satisfaction of all the parties concerned, the site acquisition can
be progressed. The schools in Hansfield will be delivered commensurate
with the phasing arrangements in the SDZ in the same manner as those for
the Adamstown SDZ.
