Sinn Féin candidate for Dublin South West, Seán Crowe, has called on the Minister for Education, Joe McHugh, to reverse the decision to relocate Griffen Community College to Kingswood Community College. Crowe said Kingswood Community College is already at maximum capacity and this move will mean local pupils from the catchment area won’t get a place in September.

Seán Crowe said:

“I have been made aware that parents and guardians of students in Kingswood Community College have been told of a decision by the CEO of Dublin Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) to transfer Griffen Community College from their current temporary accommodation in Kishoge Community College in Lucan to Kingswood Community College.

“This is due to take place in September 2020 and it was done without any consultation.

“Concerned parents have told me that Kingswood Community College is already at maximum capacity and turning away students. It will already have 700+ students in September and now 260+ students from Griffen Community College will be added.

“This was not part of the original plan for Kingswood Community College and it will mean that local pupils from the catchment area won’t get a place there in September, while students from Griffen Community College will be bussed in every day from Lucan. This is not a positive solution for the pupils of both these schools. 

“The additional traffic will also cause further chaos for residents in the area and create additional problems for commuters.

“I am calling on the Minister for Education and the CEO the DDLETB to immediately reverse this decision and to come up with a better solution to the issue, which will benefit the both schools and their pupils.”

ENDS