Vol. 536 No. 5
352 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has made a decision on the system of management for the proposed new national school at Johnstown, Navan, County Meath; when the site for the school will be acquired; when building work will commence; and when he expects the school to open. [14692/01]
A review of the primary school needs of the Navan area was carried out by my Department last year. Arising from that review a need was identified for the provision of a new school for the Johnstown area, in view of the extent and pace of residential development taking place there.
The planning section of my Department requested patron bodies involved in primary education if they wished to assume patronage of a new primary school for the area. In response, the Educate Together group has lodged an application with the planning section of my Department to establish a new multi-denominational school at Johnstown with effect from September 2001. The applicants are currently in the process of identifying a suitable interim location for the proposed school.
When all the relevant information is available to my Department, assessment of the application will be concluded as speedily as possible. In the meantime, it would not be possible to say specifically when a site will be acquired or when building work may commence.
The Bishop of Meath has also confirmed his interest in establishing a school in the area. No formal application has yet been received, however.
