Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 916: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the shortage of school places in the Mullingar area for pupils wishing to commence primary school or to register in a primary school on moving residence to that town; if she will undertake a review of availability of places and school accommodation in the Mullingar area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10625/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Mullingar catchment area is served by 21 primary schools, including a gaelscoil and a new multi-denominational school which commenced operation last September. Excluding the gaelscoil, which has developed into an eight teacher school, as expected, and the new multi-denominational school which is developing, the total number of extra primary school pupils who came on stream in the Mullingar catchment area between the years 1999-2000 and 2003-04 is 190. At current pupil-teacher ratios, this equates to approximately an extra 6.5 class groups. While this would have a significant impact on a single school, it is not unreasonable to expect that 19 schools could between them cater for this number.

In recent years my Department has provided temporary accommodation in a number of schools in the area to ease pressure. This includes provision at two schools — Curraghmore and Gainstown — which, between them, are catering for almost 100 of the 190 extra pupils referred to above. Two other schools received funding under the new devolved initiatives to improve accommodation.

It is important to understand that many parents, when enrolling pupils, do so in a number of schools. This has the effect of distorting pre-enrolment lists and creating the impression that there is a shortage of places. In addition, some parents may be disappointed in not obtaining a school of first choice especially if a school is particularly popular. This can also be interpreted as representing a shortage of places.

One of my Department's chief concerns in any given area is to ensure that schools can between them cater for the number of pupils presenting. This is the case in Mullingar. Boards of management are expected to manage the situation to reflect this position.

While there is pressure on some schools for places, one school in particular, in the centre of the town, has lost 50 pupils in the last five years. With the exception of an extra demand for places in the gaelscoil, which my Department is taking action to rectify, there has been no indication whatsoever that pupils have had difficulties in gaining access to schools last September.

In the Mullingar town plan for 2002 to 2008, the local authority specifically states "the existing school infrastructure is considered to be of a capacity to meet the needs of the school-going population over the period of the plan". My Department accepts that Mullingar is a developing town in the medium to long term and is taking a number of steps to ensure that its future needs are met in a timely fashion. First, a number of extension projects will be considered for progress under the 2005 school building programme. Second, the extension of the gaelscoil to 16 classrooms to provide an extra 240 pupil places is being pursued together with the development of the new multi-denominational school to 16 classrooms which will provide an extra 480 pupil places. Third, a senior Department inspector recently visited all primary schools in the area and his findings will form part of an in-depth analysis of both primary and post-primary infrastructural provision in Mullingar which will be carried out as soon as possible.