Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the need for a new four teacher school for St. George's Church of Ireland national school in Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if, in view of the projected enrolment numbers in this rapidly expanding population, the needs of the school will be met as a matter of urgency. [5093/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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As I recently announced, over the remainder of this school year a new school planning model involving published area development plans will be piloted in five areas. The north Dublin-south Louth region, which covers the Balbriggan area is included in the pilot scheme. The purpose of this new approach to school planning is to ensure, in future, the provision of school infrastructure will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, parents, trustees, sponsors of prospective new schools and all interested parties from a locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.

Following the consultation process, individual plans will set out the blueprint for schools' development in an area covering a period of up to ten years. The needs of St. George's national school will be taken into consideration in the context of the proposed development plan for its area.