Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans for the site purchased for the development of a building for the gaelscoil in Wicklow town; her further plans to develop a school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27609/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education and Science originally planned to provide an eight classroom school in Wicklow town for the gaelscoil in question. A site to accommodate this was subsequently purchased and the building project was allowed to progress into architectural planning. However, due to changing demographics, enrolments in the school increased to a level where it is now considered that a 16 classroom school is warranted. The existing site cannot be developed to cater for this need. The Department of Education and Science is, therefore, actively seeking an alternative site.

When this has been acquired, progress on the project will be considered in the school building and modernisation programme. In the meantime, high quality temporary accommodation has been made available to improve conditions at the school. A review of the overall educational needs at both primary and post-primary level in Wicklow town is being carried out and use of the existing site will be considered in this context.