Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has applied the same analysis used for projected school needs in the Castleknock area as she has in relation to the Hansfield SDZ, Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17989/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In analysing the need for future educational provision in the Hansfield SDZ, my Department based the level of future demand on an average occupancy rate of three per household and the average national figures for school attendance as a percentage of total population. It was also assumed that demand for educational provision emerging in the area would be met within the Hansfield area as schools in the surrounding area are operating at maximum capacity at present.

The situation in the Castleknock area differs from Hansfield in that my Department is seeking to optimise the use of existing accommodation along with developing new schools on greenfield sites. For example, there are expansion projects planned for St. Brigid's National School and St. Mochta's National school along with such projects as the completed new school for St. Patrick's, Diswellstown.

My Department is currently examining the demand for the future provision of Greenfield sites in the Castleknock area, in light of future planned developments and consequential demand for school provision which cannot be met by existing school infrastructure.