Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
236 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the need for a second level school in the Laytown area of County Meath in view of the rapidly expanding population in Laytown and Bettystown and also in areas such as Drogheda where young persons from Laytown and Bettystown have traditionally accessed second level places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8537/04]
View answerAs I recently announced, over the remainder of this year a new school planning model involving published area development plans will be piloted in five areas. Included in the pilot scheme is the south Louth and mid-Meath region, which covers the area referred to by the Deputy.
The purpose of this new approach to school planning is to ensure that in future, the provision of school infrastructure will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, parents, trustees, sponsors of prospective new schools and all interested parties in a locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process. Following the consultation process, individual plans will set out the blueprint for schools' development in an area covering a period of up to ten years. In this way, the education needs at both primary and post-primary levels in the Laytown area will be assessed as part of the development plan to be drawn up for that area.
