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School Accommodation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Ceisteanna (435, 436)

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

616 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the expected growth which Kilcock town, County Kildare will experience in the short term and to the urgent accommodation requirements of a school (details supplied) in Kilcock, County Kildare; if he will sanction architectural planning for the school accommodation requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22866/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Historically, key decisions on educational provision have tended to be taken without any reference to the public at large. My decision to publish an annual school building programme has re-enforced my strongly held conviction that all key decisions relating to educational infrastructure should be made in an open and transparent manner. For this reason, earlier this year, I introduced a new planning model for educational infrastructure with the aim of ensuring that in future school provision will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, trustees, parents, sponsors of prospective schools and all interested parties from a locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.

The main feature of the new planning model is the publication of area development plans which will set out a blueprint for schools' development in an area into the future. In June, I published the draft plan for the area around the N4-M4 route from Leixlip to Kilcock, including Celbridge and Maynooth and from Enfield through to Kilbeggan including Longwood, Edenderry and Killucan. Full details of the draft plan are available from my Department's website at www.education.ie.

Integral components of draft area development plans are details of existing primary and post-primary provision, a drawing together and examination of the demographics of the area and other relevant factors, commentary on the data and recommendations for educational infrastructural provision in an area into the future.

The commission on school accommodation is currently conducting a public engagement process to which all interested parties can make submissions. All of these submissions will be published. The process will culminate in the publication of a final development plan for the area against which all capital funding decisions will be made over the next decade.

I am confident that this ground-breaking approach to school planning will provide a mechanism to ensure that capital funding is allocated in both a structured and a clearly identifiable manner into the future. Most importantly, all of the stakeholders in education will have the opportunity of having their voices heard to make the education of our children the all-inclusive process it should be.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

617 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if he sanctioned temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in 2004; and if not the reason therefore. [22870/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Historically, key decisions on educational provision have tended to be taken without any reference to the public at large. My decision to publish an annual school building programme has re-enforced my strongly held conviction that all key decisions relating to educational infrastructure should be made in an open and transparent manner. For this reason, earlier this year, I introduced a new planning model for educational infrastructure with the aim of ensuring that in future school provision will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, trustees, parents, sponsors of prospective schools and all interested parties from a locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.

The main feature of the new planning model is the publication of area development plans which will set out a blueprint for schools' development in an area into the future. In June, I published the draft plan for the area around the N4-M4 route from Leixlip to Kilcock, including Celbridge and Maynooth and from Enfield through to Kilbeggan including Longwood, Edenderry and Killucan. Full details of the draft plan are available from my Department's website at www.education.ie.

Integral components of draft area development plans are details of existing primary and post-primary provision, a drawing together and examination of the demographics of the area and other relevant factors, commentary on the data and recommendations for educational infrastructural provision in an area into the future.

The commission on school accommodation is currently conducting a public engagement process to which all interested parties can make submissions. All of these submissions will be published. The process will culminate in the publication of a final development plan for the area against which all capital funding decisions will be made over the next decade.

I am confident that this ground-breaking approach to school planning will provide a mechanism to ensure that capital funding is allocated in both a structured and a clearly identifiable manner into the future. Most importantly, all of the stakeholders in education will have the opportunity of having their voices heard to make the education of our children the all-inclusive process it should be.

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