2. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education if she agrees that the demographics are such in Dublin 15 that there is a need to maintain a school (details supplied) at its existing location and for extra capacity in the Tyrellstown area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7671/25]

Sentiment score: 0.08

I know the Minister is new to her brief so she may not be familiar with these locations. With regard to Ériu Community College, the Department of Education took an arbitrary decision to move the school from its temporary location to an area 8 km away until such time as it gets its permanent location. The Minister knows that in a suburban area of Dublin, that has a huge impact. I ask her to change that decision. That is a huge demand from the community.

Sentiment score: 0.10

The reality is that both areas need secondary schools. I will give the demographics. With all due respect, the Department of Education has had an inglorious history of misplanning educational need in this area and, I am sure, in many others. Ongar, where Ériu Community College is currently located, had the highest birth rate in 2024, according to the CSO. Some 32% of the population is under 18, so where are they to go to school? The only school in the area is at capacity. Fingal, overall, has the youngest population in the country, so there is going to be a massive need for schools in all locations. I know the need in Tyrellstown, which is an area in which my daughter went to school. It needs a school as well. That is the reality. We are asking the Minister to stop the penny-pinching. People should not have to campaign for schools. They should be able to get a school. There are no transport links whatever between both areas.

Sentiment score: 0.02

There are TDs in the area from the Minister's own party demanding the schools. This is not just the Opposition. There is unanimity that both locations need schools. If the Minister is telling parents they have to go to Tyrellstown from the Ongar catchment, which is a different catchment, does she have transport lined up? I have already sent her Department a group of parents who have no transport between these areas. They cannot get school transport and there is no bus link. The reality is that this is penny-pinching by the Minister's Department. There is no other reason. It will be a blow to Dublin 15 to cede that this school will move, because we need schools in both locations and we are sick, sore and tired of having to have public meetings and protests for mainstream schools. I will say nothing of the fact that there is a task force in Dublin 15 on special education. The Minister has already demonstrated that her Department cannot plan educational provision in the area. This is yet another example and we want her to reverse this decision.

Sentiment score: -0.09