Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans for the provision of a second level school for the Laytown, Mornington and Bettystown areas in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3665/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A new school planning model involving published area development plans is being piloted in five areas over the current school year. Laytown, Mornington and Bettystown in County Meath are included in the pilot scheme as part of an overall plan for the north Dublin-east Meath-south Louth area. The need for a new post-primary school in that area will be considered in this context.

The purpose of this new approach to school planning is to ensure that, in future, the provision of school infrastructure will be decided only after a transparent consultation process. In this regard, parents, trustees, sponsors of prospective new schools and all interested parties in the locality will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the process.

Arising from this process, an individual plan will set out the blueprint for the future of educational provision in an area, which will be the basis against which all decisions in relation to capital investment will be made in the next decade.

The draft plan for the north Dublin-east Meath and south Louth area is close to completion in the school planning section of the Department and I hope to be in a position to publish it shortly.