The Department of Education has failed to provide for the needs of a diverse Doughiska community.

Speaking at the pre-budget outlook in the Seanad last week, Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames said that more investment must be put into schools and multi-cultural centres to prevent segregation and 'ghettoisation' in the future.

She used the example of the Good Shepherd parish of Doughiska, Roscam and Ardaun as a community without any integration measures. Although there are currently 36 different nationalities living in the area, there are still no primary or secondary schools.

"This is a population of approximately 8,000 persons of which 50 per cent are from different countries, living in 20 new estates. In 2000, this area had no more than 500 persons. Census 2006 shows that since 2002, this area has had a population increase of 78 per cent, yet the government has failed to act to provide even a primary school. Mass takes place in a GAA hall in the Castlegar complex. This is one of our new colourful communities that only the Catholic Church would appear to have acknowledged and extended a welcome to," said Senator Healy-Eames.

According to the senator, the actions of the Department of Education are "appalling" and they are "shirking their responsibilities" by failing to provide for the needs of the area.

"On checking with the department this week, they told me that there are enough places in surrounding national schools to meet school needs for September 2008. This is clearly missing the point. A new area such as this needs its own school to grow as a community, to give its new peoples their own identity and sense of belonging alongside the native Irish population," she added.

The Department of Education have responded by saying that they are "very much aware" of the demand for school places, particularly at primary level and that they are taking a number of measures to increase the capacity of existing schools in the area.

"Areas of Galway city and environs such as Oranmore, Doughiska, Renmore, Knocknacarra have been identified as rapidly developing areas.

With this in mind, the Department of Education and Science is taking a number of measures to increase the capacity of existing schools in the areas concerned along with the development of new schools to meet this growing demand," a spokesperson said.

"Increasingly the Department of Education and Science is proactively engaging with the Local Government Sector. Local authorities are frequently requested to reserve sites for educational purposes. In this way, every effort is made to ensure that there is adequate existing provision, or that timely arrangements are made to extend school capacity where necessary," they added.

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