Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 1246: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to expand education facilities in existing primary and post primary schools in County Louth, in view of the significant growth in population particularly in Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee; if she intends to build new primary and secondary schools in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1011/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is aware that the population of County Louth continues to increase and that this is causing some strain on existing educational provision at primary and post-primary level. However, my Department has undertaken a number of measures to address the current and future need for pupil places in this area in general and in the areas referred to by the Deputy in particular.

In this regard, at primary level, extensions were recently provided at Walshestown NS, Tullyallen NS, Scoil Mhuire in Muchgrange, and Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál in Cartown. In addition a new 32 classroom school has been approved for Drogheda and major extensions have been approved for Ardee Monastery NS, Scoil Mhuire na nGael Dundalk and St. Buite's NS Tenure. A new school building has also been approved for Mell NS Drogheda.

At post-primary level, an extension to Scoil Uí Mhuire Dunleer is currently under construction and extension projects at Drogheda Grammar School and Dundalk Grammar School are in architectural planning. All of these initiatives represent huge capital investment and demonstrates my Department's commitment to meeting the needs of the areas concerned.

My Department has also had discussions with Louth County Council which has appointed consultants to draw up a master plan for three new residential neighbourhoods as identified under the local area plan for north Drogheda environs 2004. My Department received draft working papers on the planning strategy for this master plan and officials subsequently met with the local authority to discuss the plan. Following this, my Department corresponded with the local authority outlining its initial assessment of educational requirements at both primary and post-primary level for the area based on a proposal in the plan to deliver up to 7,500 new houses over the next ten to 15 years.

My Department also received correspondence from Dundalk Town Council with regard to a proposed development plan for the south-west sector of Dundalk. This correspondence outlined proposals for the development of three areas of residential development comprising of some 7,300 units. As a result my Department outlined its initial assessment of educational requirements for this area based on the proposed development. The next stage in this process is the preparation of a draft development plan by the local authority which my Department will be commenting on when available.

Apart from this, as the Deputy will also be aware, a new school planning model involving published area development plans is being piloted in five areas over the current school year. Drogheda is included in the pilot scheme as part of an overall plan for the north Dublin/east Meath and south Louth area. The need for additional primary and post-primary schools in the area will be further considered in this context.

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.

The draft plan for north Dublin/east Meath and south Louth is nearing completion in the school planning section of my Department and I hope to be in a position to publish it shortly.