Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 567: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the timescale for the delivery of the recently announced PPP programme of school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32951/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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On 29 September 2005 I announced plans for the provision of 23 new post-primary and four primary schools through public private partnership procurement in the period 2005 to 2009. This is one of the most ambitious building programmes ever undertaken in the education sector.

My Department, in consultation with the National Development Finance Agency, is currently engaged in finalising the content of the first bundle of schools to be delivered under the current programme. I will announce the schools in the bundle in the near future. It is expected that the NDFA will be in a position to go to the market with this bundle in the first half of 2006. I will launch the remaining bundles on a rolling basis thereafter as part of the four year delivery plan.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 568: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the new school building planning model launched in January 2004 is intended to be the sole basis on which capital funding decisions are made by her Department in the future; if the recommendations derived from the pilot areas of this planning model will be implemented fully; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32982/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The recommendations in my Department's area development plans will form a vital framework in which future decisions about school planning in an area will be made. Progress on individual recommendations will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards, subject to the prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. The normal application procedures for capital funding will continue to apply for schools covered by the plans to take account of any changes in the circumstances of individual schools.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 570: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide three primary and a possible second level school in the proposed Dundalk south west local area plan. [32372/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department received correspondence from Dundalk Town Council with regard to a proposed development plan for the south west sector of Dundalk. This correspondence outlined proposals for the development of three areas of residential development comprising in total some 7,300 housing units. In turn, my Department outlined its initial assessment of educational requirements at both primary and post-primary level based on this proposed development.

The next stage in this process is the preparation of a draft development plan by the local authority. My Department would expect to see its assessment of educational requirements reflected in this plan. When available, the plan will be submitted to my Department for comment. My Department will firm up its own plans for any extra educational infrastructure required when the draft development plan is finalised and there are firm indications of the extent of and timescale for the delivery of housing developments.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 571: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the correspondence she has received and sent, and the meetings which were held, about schools provision in the Drogheda northern environs plan. [32373/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Louth County Council has appointed consultants to draw up a master plan for three new residential neighbourhoods as identified under the local area plan for the north Drogheda environs 2004. My Department received draft working papers on the planning strategy for this master plan and officials subsequently met with the local authority to discuss the plan. My Department has also corresponded with the local authority outlining its initial assessment of educational requirements at both primary and post-primary level based on a proposal in the plan to deliver up to 7,500 new houses over the next 10-15 years.

The next stage in this process is the preparation of a draft development plan by the local authority. My Department would expect to see its assessment of educational requirements reflected in this plan. When available, the plan will be submitted to my Department for comment.