Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2010
262 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 454 of 22 June 2010, if she will make the online inventory of school accommodation available to the public, in view of the public interest from both existing and potential parents in the condition of school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28623/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe inventory on school accommodation is available to schools through the Department's Esinet portal. Esinet is a platform for interactive communication between my Department and its partners. It is a secure web-based system which not only allows schools access to the online inventory, but also allows schools access to other facilities such as an online claims system, the September Returns Online Service and the October Returns Online Service. It is therefore not intended to make this system available to the general public.
The inventory will provide key data and statistics on the existing school building stock at both primary and post-primary levels. As I have previously stated, when the information is compiled and analysed, it is my intention to publish summary information from the inventory in the coming school year.
263 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the forward planning section review of the additional accommodation which will be required at primary and post-primary level for 2010 and onwards in the Inishowen area; if this review includes primary and post-primary schools in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28650/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra264 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if the forward planning section review of the additional accommodation which will be required at primary and post-primary level in 2010 and onwards includes an assessment of the provision of primary and post-primary school capacity in Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28651/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra265 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if the forward planning section review of the additional accommodation which will be required at primary and post-primary level in 2010 and onwards includes an assessment of the provision of primary and post-primary school capacity in Moville, Buncrana, Carndonagh, Millford or Ramelton, County Donegal; if she will report on each of these towns individually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28652/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together.
The Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the Department of Social Protection and with reference to recent schools' enrolment data. Given the increase in the birth rate in recent years the initial focus of this analysis has been on primary school accommodation requirements. This will be followed by a more detailed analysis of post-primary school accommodation requirements. The study indicates that the requirement for additional primary provision in the short to medium term is likely to be greatest in more than 40 identified locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas.
Forward Planning Section is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis and reports for each of these initial identified areas in order to identify school accommodation requirements for each area up to and including the school year 2014/15. School accommodation requirements in the Letterkenny area have been considered as part of this detailed study of the identified areas. When the required reports have been completed for these initial identified areas Forward Planning Section will continue to work on preparing reports on a priority basis for the remainder of the country. School accommodation requirements in the Inishowen, Moville, Buncrana, Carndonagh, Milford and Ramelton areas will be considered as part of this process.
Any proposed building projects arising from Forward Planning Section's analysis will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.
