Vol. 539 No. 2
189 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider the establishment of a gaelscoil in Naas, County Kildare; if his attention has been drawn to the support for such a project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19331/01]
It is the policy of my Department to facilitate and support the establishment of gaelscoileanna in areas outside the Gaeltacht where sufficient demand for such a facility is demonstrated and where no alternative provision exists within the general area.
A group wishing to establish a gaelscoil should submit a formal application to the planning section of my Department in Tullamore. The application should include details of the number of pupils expected to enrol in the proposed new school in the initial and subsequent years, how it is proposed to accommodate the school and patronage arrangements.
No application for the establishment of a gaelscoil in Naas has been received in my Department to date. Should such application be received in the future, it will be fully assessed, having regard to the foregoing considerations.
