Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 556: 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 area of this planning model will be fully implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34045/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The recommendations in the area development plans will form a vital framework in which future decisions about school planning in this 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. When the current pilot plans have been completed consideration will be given to extending it to other areas of the country.

In the meantime, the normal planning processes will continue to apply. This involves research by the school planning section of my Department into all the relevant factors affecting school accommodation in any given area including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Liaison with existing schools is an important part of the process as is liaison with local authorities.

In this way, every effort will be made to ensure that there is adequate existing provision or that timely arrangements are made to extend capacity or provide new infrastructure where the need arises.