Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

As the Deputy is aware, the existing school site has certain constraints in terms of size, access and the fact that there is a protected structure and associated conservation issues. My Department considered the option of constructing a new school but it has not been possible to identify a suitable site. Accordingly, my Department is now exploring the possibility of developing the school in a cost effective manner on the present site.

The Deputy will also be aware that there is a significant demand for multi-denominational education in the area in question and the school referred to is the only school providing this type of education in that area. In this regard, I have launched a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the primary sector with its key objective to identify mechanisms to enable the patronage of the country's primary schools to reflect the choices required by parents.

All applications for capital funding are prioritised by my Department in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the education partners. Full details of the current status of each project can be viewed on my Department's website www.education.ie.

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