Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 564: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if an order has been signed by her or any of her predecessors regarding a change in catchment areas relevant to schools (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34154/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post-primary education in the late 1960s and were determined following consultation with local educational interests. For planning purposes the country was divided into geographic districts each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre with one or more post-primary schools. The intention was and continues to be that these defined districts facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs.

Neither I nor my predecessors have made any order regarding a change in the catchment area affecting the schools referred to by the Deputy. However, I can confirm that a change in the catchment area was made by officials following the closure of the school referred to.