The need for a new primary school in the general Stepaside area has been identified and the local authority has reserved a site for this purpose in its action area plan. The matter of acquiring the site will be considered in the context of the capital programme for 2004 against all other competing priorities.
A formal notification of an intention to apply for the recognition of a new school in Stepaside has been received from the Dublin Archdiocese. It is envisaged that the school would commence operation for the 2004-05 school year. The application will be referred to the new schools advisory committee for its consideration. The committee will make its recommendations to me in this matter at a later stage. Adequate notice will be given to allow for the recruitment of staff in the event of the proposed new school being recognised.