Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason she deferred the decision to give official recognition to a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow on 21 April 2006 when she gave six other schools recognition on that date; when official recognition will be given to this gaelscoil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18288/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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On 21st April I announced that, following consideration of the report and recommendations of the New Schools Advisory Committee on the recognition of new primary schools, I approved the establishment of six new schools from September 2006 in accordance with Section 10 of the Education Act, 1998 and the published criteria for the recognition of new schools.

My announcement also stated that decisions in relation to applications for three further schools, including the one referred to by the Deputy and another school in the same area, were, for the moment, being deferred pending some further analysis by my officials of issues arising from the report of the New Schools Advisory Committee. In relation to the school to which the Deputy refers, my officials are considering the comments made by the New Schools Advisory Committee with regard to the totality of provision in the area.

I expect that this analysis will shortly be completed and decisions notified to the patron bodies of the proposed schools.