Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way in which she intends to ensure that the right of school children to an education through Irish is upheld in west Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the situation regarding a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow and the future of the children enrolled there. [20153/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A decision will be made on the application to establish a new Gaelscoil in West Wicklow by the end of the month. The reason the decision was deferred at the time that the list of new schools was announced was to allow for consideration of the impact that recognising this school would have on the existing schools in Blessington, plans for the expansion of which are well advanced. The New Schools Advisory Committee recommended in their report to me that this issue be considered. The Chairperson of the Commission on School Accommodation is carrying out a review and further analysis of key data in relation to the population projections for the Blessington area and this will be completed by the end of the month. I am very conscious of the need for a decision to be made as soon as possible so that parents know what the situation will be for September and that is why I have put a deadline on issuing one.