Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to be very clear; the Department carries out considerable forward planning. We have a geographical information system that allows us to look at current data and projected data. We engage with local authorities, school patrons and management bodies. We are consistently planning forward. That can be seen in the 300 projects currently under construction, which I have mentioned. That includes brand-new schools and additional accommodation. More than 800 school building projects have been provided for over the past number of years since the present Government was installed. Some €4.3 billion has been expended on school building programmes. We will continue to engage. I have directly engaged with local authorities, as have my officials. We have also engaged with the LDA. We engage with whoever we need to engage with.

It is a fact that a significant amount of housing is being provided for. Obviously, where housing goes education must also go. We are in the throes of ensuring this is the case.

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