John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary level school places available in Lucan, County Dublin; the number of junior infant enrolments that took place in September 2003; the number of persons who failed to obtain school places for junior infants in 2003; and his Department's plans and projections for primary school places in the Lucan area for the coming years. [14225/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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There are nine primary schools in Lucan and they will offer a total of 662 junior infant places this year. This figure represents an increase of 56 places on September 2003. My Department has not been made aware of any child being unable to access a place in Lucan in 2003.

Swift and decisive actions have been taken to address the demands that have emerged from the rapid development of Lucan over recent years. Within the last five years a total sum of €19 million has been invested in providing and upgrading educational provision in Lucan, €12 million at primary level and €7 million at post-primary level.

This expansion is set to continue with three new schools due to commence construction this year. Specifically at primary level, building projects have recently been completed at Scoil Áine junior school, St. Thomas's senior school and an entire new school has been provided for Lucan Educate Together national school in September 2003. A new 16 classroom school for Griffeen Valley Educate Together national school is one of over 200 large scale school building projects that has been fast-tracked to go to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. Archbishop Ryan national school will re-organise this year to form a senior school and a junior school. The junior school will offer an additional two junior infant classes in September 2004. A permanent building project to facilitate the reorganisation of Archbishop Ryan national school is scheduled to proceed to construction later this year. In the interim, my Department has arranged for the provision of temporary accommodation while the new building is under construction. My Department has been dealing in a comprehensive way with the needs of this developing area and will continue to do so.