Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to her announcement in July 2005 of the development of a new post-primary school for Gorey, County Wexford, the actions taken to date in 2005 to advance this proposal; the relevant local interests that have been contacted by her Department since July 2005; if discussions have taken place between her Department and a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; the timescale expected for the construction of the new school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35819/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the proposed new post-primary school for Gorey will be delivered by way of a public-private partnership. As I indicated in my statement of 29 September 2005 on this matter, it is my intention that the first bundle of schools under my Department's PPP programme will be offered to the market in the first half of 2006 and regularly thereafter in the period 2006 to 2009 to ensure a steady deal flow.

The precise make-up of the bundles in terms of the number of schools in each, the geographical spread and the timing for delivery will be determined by my Department in consultation with the centre of expertise that is being established within the NDFA.

With regard to the preliminaries for the new school in Gorey, my Department is in discussion with the local authority with regard to the identification of a suitable site for the school. At the appropriate time, it will engage with the authorities of the school to which he refers with regard to the process and arrangements that will be required to ensure a smooth transition from a one-school centre to a two-school centre. Part of this process will involve defining the enrolment policies and catchments areas that will underpin effective provision once Gorey becomes a two-school centre and the enrolment policy that should operate at the school in question during the transition period.