Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coughlan.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the process being utilised to ensure there will be adequate accommodation in schools at primary and post-primary level in all parts of the country. The forward planning section of the Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, owing to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary level in the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the Department of Social Protection, as well as with reference to recent schools enrolment data. School accommodation requirements in the Navan area have been considered as part of this detailed study. Indicators are that approximately 69 additional primary classrooms may be required across that area to cater for increased enrolments up to the school year 2014-15. The Department is considering options to meet the deficit identified.

On the specific issue referred to by the Senator, the Department is engaged in ongoing negotiations with a landowner to acquire a site with a view to establishing an educational campus on the site. It is intended that this site will be master planned to cater for a 32-classroom school, a special school and a 1,000-pupil post-primary school. The Department has been engaged in discussions with the local authority on this matter. The Senator will appreciate that, in the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on these discussions. Once a suitable site is acquired, the progression of the accompanying building project will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to the Department for school buildings generally. In September the Department also recognised a new community national school under the patronage of the VEC.

I thank the Senator for affording me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position on the matter. I have listened to the points he made and appreciate that he wishes to further this process. I will take his comments on the negotiations with the landowner and the local authority back to the Department to ascertain whether these matters can be finalised as soon as possible.