Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Derek McDowell
Ceist:
128
Mr. McDowell
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the procedures currently followed for the planning of new schools in developing areas; the agencies involved; the role of local authorities in providing sites; the consideration involved; and the basis on which decisions are taken in respect of patronage of new schools.
[12313/01]
The process of assessing the need for new educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area involves consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and existing school provision serving the area.
As part of the process, my Department monitors county development plans and area action plans and meets with local authorities as required to establish the location, scale and pace of major housing developments. An assessment is carried out of the likely implications of such developments in relation to the capacity of any existing schools and, where appropriate, the local authority is requested to reserve a site for educational purposes. In this way, every effort is made to ensure that there is adequate existing provision, or that timely arrangements are made to extend capacity where necessary. Liaison with existing schools is important also and these would normally alert my Department where the need for additional accommodation is anticipated.
In the event that the level of development and population growth in an area indicates a long-term need for primary or post-primary educational provision, a decision is made on the means by which that need should be met. Generally, this involves the provision of permanent accommodation in the form of a new school or an extension to existing facilities. Temporary or prefabricated accommodation is normally provided to alleviate short-term accommodation needs.
Where it is necessary to develop a greenfield school, my Department usually acquires the site from the land owner, although the option is available for patrons to do so should they so wish.
The issue of patronage may be determined in a number of ways. Historically, schools at primary and post-primary level were predominantly denominational in character and privately owned. The development of a network of second level schools under the aegis of vocational education committees and, more recently, the emergence of all-Irish and multi-denominational primary schools under State ownership, have added to the variety of patronage and trusteeship arrangements.
Where my Department has established the need for new primary school provision and the matter has not been the subject of an application by local promoters, the case would be taken up with established patron bodies to determine their intentions in that regard. At second level, the options available are a community school, a community college and a voluntary secondary school. Generally, the model chosen in each case would be determined following local consultation.
Question No. 129 answered with Question No. 78.
