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

The Deputy will have to ask a more precise question. He asked about the status of the plans for the 42 new schools. As a result, I explained that the 42 were selected from 314 areas. In deciding which areas got new schools, we looked at where there was capacity in existing schools to expand. That is how the figure of 42 was reached. A patron selection process will now be initiated. We will be inviting patrons to submit their application to run these schools, where they are identified. The planning areas, which are geographically determined, are the areas within which parents will be assessed. The precise location will be identified with the local authority, as we do in all such cases. At this stage we are identifying areas where we need new schools. We are initiating that planning process and we are developing the various elements required to be completed in order to decide the patron, the parents' views, the decision of the establishment group and then the site issue.

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