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

I do not know what happened to the Deputy, but the update was provided to the Joint Committee on Education and Skills last week, as requested and as we indicated we would. There are 42 new schools scheduled to open up to 2022. We are acting to provide a better pre-planning process in order that we can anticipate needs and make plans, and to have a timely programme for construction. As the Deputy mentioned, in the case of post-primary schools a parental selection has been invited and an independent commission considering the view of parents as to the preferred patron for those second-level schools. Before Christmas a similar process for primary schools due to open in September 2019 will begin. The Department is identifying temporary sites in most cases, which is the norm for new schools. The Department is working with local authorities to find the permanent sites these schools will need in the long term.

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