Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2004
541 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the much needed post-primary school for Donabate, County Dublin; when she will be in a position to make a decision on this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25381/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new school planning model involving published area development plans will be piloted in five areas over the remainder of this school year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the north Dublin, east Meath and south Louth region, encompassing Donabate, is included in the pilot scheme. 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 from a locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.
Following the consultation process, the individual plan for north Dublin will set out the blueprint for schools' development in the area into the future. The plan will be the mark against which all decisions on capital investment will be made for the next decade. I am confident that this groundbreaking approach to school planning will build on other initiatives, such as publication of the school building programme, to enhance further the credibility of the processes underpinning the allocation of capital funding.
