Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe.

At the outset I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the process being utilised to ensure that there will be adequate accommodation in schools at primary and post-primary level in all parts of the country.

The forward planning section of the Department of Education and Science is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary levels for future school years. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Having considered these factors decisions will be taken on the means by which emerging needs will be met within an area.

The forward planning section utilises the latest in geographical information system, GIS, technology to assist in planning school requirements in the future. The GIS contains information on all schools in the country, at primary and post-primary levels, geo-coded to their location. The information is then linked to the relevant demographic information for those areas - typically, the demographic information will be from the Central Statistics Office, the General Registrar of Births, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, An Post's geo-directory and information supplied by local authorities through development plans. Growth projection figures are applied to existing population with a view to assessing future requirements at primary and post-primary levels. As a matter of course, there is ongoing liaison between the Department and local authorities to establish the location, scale and pace of any major proposed developments and their possible implications for school provision.

Applications from primary schools in the area referred to are being considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme.

It should also be noted in this context that a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools is currently being undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation. A technical working group, under the direction of the chairman of the commission, has been established for this purpose. This working group has commenced its work and it is expected that it will be completed and recommendations made to the Minister before the end of this year.

In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new schools except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new schools. This means that new schools will not be established for reasons not related to demographic growth in areas where there is already sufficient school accommodation or where increases can be catered for by extending existing school accommodation. It is proposed that locations where new schools are required for the coming years will be identified by the Department of Education and Science and the details circulated to all existing patron bodies.

This review does not mean that there will be a complete cessation of the school building programme outside areas of rapid growth. This year alone, almost €614 million will be spent on the school building programme. In addition to the establishment of new schools in areas of rapid population growth, the normal building programme of modernising, replacing or extending existing schools will continue.

The forward planning section will continue to monitor planned developments and population growth in the Roscommon town area to ensure that school accommodation needs are provided in a timely manner. I thank the Deputy once again for raising this matter.

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