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School Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 April 2011

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Ceisteanna (85, 86)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

98 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding accommodation in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8811/11]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The most recent projections produced by my Department are forecasting an increase in the projected enrolments at primary level in the coming years. It is within this context that the Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of analysing all areas in the country in order to determine the level of additional provision which will be required at both primary and post primary level up to 2017. Overall primary requirements in Wicklow will be considered as part of this process and an appropriate long term accommodation solution to the needs of the area will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

I can confirm for the Deputy that the first two schools to which he refers have applied to my Department for major capital funding for new schools and the third school has applied for an extension. In accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale capital projects, the applications for the three schools have been assessed and all have been assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the proposed projects for the schools in question, is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including projects for these schools, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme with due regard to the recommendations from the Forward Planning Section of my Department and the available funding. At that point, a meeting between school representatives and my officials can be arranged if necessary. It is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the projects at this time.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

99 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Skills the person who sanctioned the purchase of 40 acres of land at a location (details supplied) in County Kildare for a multi-school campus in view of the fact that the location of the lands and their proposed use was in direct contravention of Department policy since 2005 which deemed that a new second level school was required on the Straffan side of Maynooth, County Kildare. [8839/11]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Since the publication of the Commission on School Accommodation Area Development Plan for the N4/M4 Area report in 2005, my Department has continued to analyse demographic data to identify the areas in the country 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. School accommodation requirements in the Maynooth area have been considered as part of this detailed study and the Forward Planning post-primary reports forecast that a new post-primary entity will be required for Maynooth town and environs in the next 3 to 4 years.

The existing post primary school is currently housed on a 5 acre site with no room for further expansion and a current enrolment of circa 1,100 pupils. Following consultation with the Local Authority, County Kildare Vocational Education Committee submitted a proposal for the purchase of lands to meet the need for additional educational accommodation in Maynooth. The site is considered suitable for future educational purposes. On that basis, my Department approved the proposed acquisition by the VEC of these lands in order to provide for forecasted educational accommodation requirements in the Maynooth area.

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