Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the current shortage of primary school places in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; if a site has been purchased for a school (details supplied); and if it is proposed that this school will be a 24 class school. [4982/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I assure the Deputy that my Department is fully aware of the rapidly developing nature of the Dublin 15 area. Consequently, it regularly meets the local authority to monitor its emerging needs. It has already taken decisive action to tackle the demand for extra pupil places. Specifically, at primary level, my Department recognised the school referred to by the Deputy in September 2004. While this school is operating from another school, officials in the school planning section of my Department are proactively seeking a solution which will provide the school with its own accommodation in the Castaheany-Ongar area from September 2005. This involves the acquisition of a site which is being pursued. It is intended to develop the school to a 24 classroom facility which will provide an extra 700 primary pupil places for the area.

In addition, a building project is under way at an existing school in Littlepace, Castaheany, which will deliver a 16 classroom permanent school structure. This permanent building, together with a high quality prefabricated structure already in place, will allow the school to operate as a 24 classroom facility catering for 700 pupils.

Given the level of housing developments and consequent growth in population, my Department recognises the need for a further primary school in the Tyrrelstown area of Dublin 15. In this regard, an application has been received by the new schools advisory committee for the recognition of a new school from September 2005. My officials are working with Fingal County Council to make a suitable site available for the school to coincide with its commencement plans. It is intended that this school will also be a 24 classroom facility.

At post-primary level, it is intended to locate a new school at Phibblestown. Negotiations regarding the acquisition of a site are at an advanced stage. Plans for the delivery of the school building will be made when the site has been acquired.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a site has been allocated for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; if this school will be a 24 class school; if there are plans to purchase the additional two-acre site adjacent to another school; and if it his Department's intention to increase this school to a 24 class school. [4983/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Given the level of housing developments and consequent growth in population, my Department recognises the need for a new primary school in the area referred to by the Deputy. In this regard, an application has been received by the new schools advisory committee for the recognition of a new school from September 2005. My officials are working with Fingal County Council to make a suitable site available for the school to coincide with its commencement plans. To cater for the anticipated level of demand for pupil places, it is intended that the school will be a 24 classroom facility. The short to medium-term plan for the other school referred to by the Deputy is to expand it to 24 classrooms. This will enable it to cater for 700 pupils. The building project for the school, which is under way, is for a 16 classroom permanent structure. This permanent building, together with the high quality prefabricated structure already in place, will allow the school to operate as a 24 classroom facility. My Department does not have any plans to purchase the two-acre site adjacent to this school.