Dominic Hannigan (Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I am pleased he is taking this Adjournment debate because he has an interest in and knowledge of primary schooling in County Meath.

The population of County Meath has grown significantly in the past 15 years and has experienced an increase of approximately 200%. This has meant there have been many requirements for new school places throughout the county. Many members will be familiar with the position of towns such as Laytown where a couple of years ago students could not access school places. I wish to discuss in this debate the position of a school in Johnstown, just outside Navan town, which has been brought to my attention by the Labour Party's local councillor, Jenny McHugh. At present, 500 students attend school in a leased building because the Department has not procured a new school for the children. Moreover, the leased building leaves much to be desired. For instance, there is very little car parking for parents who drop off children and it has no green area for the children to play in during breaks, which clearly is not satisfactory in this day and age. The school is spread over three floors and that is not very comfortable for younger children. According to Councillor McHugh, the Department is spending up to €200,000 per annum on refurbishing this old Dickensian-style building. This constitutes a clear waste of money when one considers that a new school would not incur such refurbishment costs.

There is a proposal to build a new school and a site of four acres has been identified in Johnstown. Little progress has been made between the Department and the local authority. The Minister of State should comment on the current state of play. Is the Department in consultation with Meath County Council or the owner of the four acres? It is clear this is costing everyone money in the long run and is unsustainable. Moreover, in respect of social cost benefit, it does not wash its face and the new school should be provided now.

Will the Minister of State comment on the matter? I attended school in Cushenstown, not far from there, and it is the same school the Minister of State's own father attended back in the 1930s. The Minister of State is probably familiar with the school because he takes a great interest in the area. I would appreciate his comments on this issue and I certainly will revert to Councillor McHugh. If there is anything that can be done locally, it certainly will be done and we will work with the Department to make progress on this issue.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Dominic Hannigan (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for a comprehensive answer. Is he able to provide a timescale for the end of the aforementioned negotiations? I presume the Department hopes to conclude them shortly. Does the Minister of State happen to know how long that might be?

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Unfortunately, I cannot put a timescale on it, given that these are discussions and negotiations. I appreciate the point made by the Senator about this matter and about how all concerned are anxious to advance this issue. I will take this on board, bring it back to the Department and try to have these discussions finalised as soon as possible.