Delay in opening new schools criticised

A NORTHSIDE TD has warned that already over-subscribed secondary schools in Fingal will experience further pressure in the forthcoming term after the development of two local schools was pushed back another 15 months.

Through a Parliamentary Question (PQ), Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton confirmed to Dublin Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien (FF) that the new schools, scheduled to open in Malahide/Portmarnock and Swords in September, will not now open until September 2018.

Minister Bruton said the Patron of the new Malahide/Portmarnock post-primary school (Educate Together) has decided for operational reasons that it is in the best interests of the school to postpone the opening until September 2018.

“My department has been working in close co-operation with Educate Together to facilitate the opening of the school and will continue to do so with a view to its opening in suitable interim accommodation in September 2018,” the Minister said.

“Where a requirement for additional post-primary schools has been identified, details including proposed timelines related to the opening of the schools are made known by a ministerial announcement. 

“However, patrons may decide for different operational reasons in a particular year that it is in the best interests of a new post-primary school to defer its opening.  

“In some cases there may be a timing issue, where many parents will have already committed to other second level schools in the area ahead of the announcement of the new school.”

Minister Bruton said the Patron of the new Swords post-primary school, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB), has also decided for operational reasons that it is in the best interests of the school to defer its opening to September 2018.

“The Patron has confirmed to the department that Swords Community College will open in September 2018, with a high number of applications having already been received. 

“The acquisition of school sites in densely populated areas such as Dublin/Swords presents an ongoing challenge for my department as the availability of suitable property is often extremely limited, due to the area of accommodation and ancillary facilities required.”  

Minister Bruton added: “My Department will continue to work in close co-operation with Fingal County Council and the site acquisition process is underway in respect of the permanent accommodation for this school.” 

Deputy O’Brien said the provision of the new schools was originally announced in November 2015.  

“Since then I have continually raised the urgent necessity for the provision of these secondary school places in the north county,” he said. 

“Fingal is the fastest-growing area in the country and the number of people living in the area has increased by 8 per cent in the past five years. 

“This rise in population has exacerbated the chronic shortage of school places in the north county.

“It can only be expected that the current lack of sufficient capacity in our schools will continue to worsen.”

Deputy O’Brien said high birth rates in recent years will no doubt place significant pressure on pupil enrollments in both primary and secondary schools unless decisive action is taken by the Department of Education and Skills. “Local parents are becoming increasingly anxious about whether there will be a place for their children come September,” he added. “This update of a delay in development will add more worry.”