Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to develop a new national school on lands in the Citywest and Fortunestown area of Dublin 24 (details supplied); the nature of discussions between South Dublin County Council and her Department regarding this matter; the timeframe for the establishment of such a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7441/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Dublin school planning committee acts as an initial point of contact where the local authorities can signal to my Department and the patron bodies anticipated demand for future school provision. Detailed discussions regarding reservation of sites and scale and timeframe for developments also take place at this forum.

Arising from this process, a site for primary school purposes has been reserved in the Fortunestown area. A decision on the provision of a new school will involve further consultations with the local authority regarding the rate and likely timescale of housing developments in the area, together with an ongoing assessment of the capacity of existing schools to meet anticipated demand.

With regard to the area as a whole, my Department has acknowledged the need for a replacement building to enable St. Mary's national school, Saggart, to meet the future needs of the area. It has also been established that the present site is unsuitable for further development. The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in regard to site acquisitions generally, will be asked to explore the possibility of acquiring an alternative site for this school.

An application for temporary accommodation from St. Mary's national school in Saggart has been received and a decision in this matter will issue shortly to the school management authorities.