Vol. 567 No. 3
140 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the pressing need for an extension at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if his Department will take into consideration the plans for local housing when calculating the order a school is placed on the list of priorities for such work. [14150/03]
The proposed accommodation project at St. Thomas' senior national school, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24, is listed in section 6 of the 2003 school building programme, which is published on my Department's website, www.education.ie. This proposed project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and has been assigned a "band 2" rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large scale projects. Projects listed in sections 6 and 7 primary are not being authorised to progress beyond their current stage of architectural planning for the time being. The timing of when projects listed in these sections can progress to tender and construction will depend on the budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years and the priority afforded to each project by reference to the band rating.
141 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the plans for significant additional housing in the Killinarden area of Dublin 24; if his Department has detailed this increase into its projected resource allocation for the schools in the area; and if his Department has considered the addition of a new school to cater for the population increase. [14151/03]
Officials of my Department's planning section meet on a regular basis with the planning department of South Dublin County Council with a view to identifying the need for additional educational provision and reserving sites for schools where required. The overall enrolment trend in schools in the Killinarden area is downward. However, in light of the proposed additional housing in the area, my Department will continue to monitor developments and any needs identified will be addressed by increasing existing school capacity or through new school provision, as appropriate.
142 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the precise nature of the co-ordination and consultation his Department's officials engage in with regard to the building of or extension of existing schools where there are clear plans by a local authority to significantly increase the level of housing in a particular area. [14152/03]
143 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has instructed his officials responsible for building schools to consult local authorities before they finalise their county development plans so that there can be an orderly planning of future educational needs in a particular area. [14153/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.
The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area entails consideration by my Department of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. As part of this process, the Minister for Education and Science is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development plans or proposed variations to development plans. My Department monitors these plans and meets local authorities as required to establish the location, scale and pace of major housing developments and their possible implications for school provision.
Where appropriate, the local authority may be requested to reserve a site for educational purposes. In this way, every effort is made to ensure there is adequate existing provision or that timely arrangements are made to extend capacity where necessary. Liaison with existing schools is an important part of the process, as the school authorities usually alert my Department when, in their view, the need for additional accommodation is anticipated. In addition, standing arrangements are in place for officials of my Department's planning and building unit to meet on a regular basis with officials of the four Dublin local authorities to discuss development proposals and consequent site requirements for new schools. My Department is currently concentrating on the areas of major development and population growth with a view to identifying where the most urgent need for new or additional educational facilities exists or is likely to arise in the future.
