Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The original question does not include all those issues. The Deputy may find the reply a bit generic.

In the process leading to ministerial announcements of new schools,my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation, including new schools, will be needed. When this process has been completed, I receive a detailed memorandum with recommendations for the establishment of new schools. Once I have approved the recommendations, an announcement is issued advising the details of where the new schools will be required.

In order to determine who will operate the school, a separate patronage process is subsequently commenced and I receive a memorandum advising on the details of the process, when it should commence and the closing date for applications. Once approved, a ministerial announcement is issued inviting patron bodies and prospective patrons to apply.

When the assessment of patronage applications has been completed by the forward planning section, a report is then sent to the independent new schools establishment group, NSEG, with detailed analysis of each area. The NSEG reviews the report and submits its observations and recommendations to me. On this basis, I make the final decision on patronage of the new schools. Depending on the issues to be addressed in the course of an overall process, I will seek updates or meet with the relevant section as required.

The process is similar for major building works. The demographic need is established using the various CSO, departmental and local authority input on demographic trends and projects are chosen to achieve the best fit for emerging needs in an economic manner. A list of major projects, covering a multi-annual programme, is then drawn up.

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