Vol. 534 No. 3
307 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which a particular projected enrolment was arrived at for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; his views on whether this figure needs to be increased, as Athlone is an expanding town and is projected to reach city status; and his further views on a projected enrolment of 950 as estimated by the school authorities. [10596/01]
An enrolment of 750 pupils in the short term and 650 pupils in the long-term was projected by the planning and building unit of my Department for the school referred to by the Deputy. These figures were based on statistics relating to future output from primary schools in the catchment area and on recent enrolment trends in the post-primary school in question. The matter was discussed with the school authorities at the time and my Department understood that there was agreement that the figures were realistic.
