FIANNA Fail has accused the Minister for Education of "breathtaking complacency" for failing to help find new accommodation for Crumlin multi denominational school, which is facing eviction.

The party's education spokesman, Mr Micheal Martin, said that despite all the Minister's "cant" about the development of multi denominational education, these were children in a disadvantaged area who were getting no help from the Department of Education.

Mr Martin said that two parents who were financial guarantors in the school had received court summonses. There were drug addicts in the hack shed. The school had been burgled only yesterday.

"The school is under siege. Is it not scandalous and disgraceful that you have not intervened immediately?" he asked Ms Breathnach during education question time in the Dail yesterday.

The Minister promised there would be no undue delay in processing the school's application for permanent recognition, which is required in order to qualify for capital grants from the Department. As was the case with all schools with temporary recognition, future viability was a key consideration when decisions on permanent status were being taken.

The growth potential of schools had to be closely examined at a time when overall pupil numbers were falling at a rate of 11,000 a year.

Ms Breathnach indicated that temporary pre fab buildings in good condition were available but efforts to find a site for these in the Crumlin area had been unsuccessful so far.

The Crumlin school has moved several times already since it was set up in 1994. The school with its 30 pupils is currently housed in temporary premises in Goldenbridge, but this is being redeveloped by the owners, Zoe Developments, as apartments.