Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 562: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will announce the recognition of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason it was not announced in April 2006 when other decisions relating to recognition were announced. [20510/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be pleased to learn that I have recently announced my decision to grant provisional recognition to the school referred to, from September 2006. I had deferred a decision in relation to recognition of this school in order to allow my officials time to engage with the patron about a matter of concern raised by the New Schools Advisory Committee relating to the possible impact on enrolment in an existing school of similar type in the same general area as the proposed interim accommodation for the school referred to.

Having considered the issues of concern and the patron's response, I am pleased to grant provisional recognition to the school. The granting of provisional recognition to a new school is standard practice and the school will be considered for permanent recognition in due course, once viability is demonstrated.