Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow that has been informed that her Department will not announce a decision on their application for recognition until after the June bank holiday weekend 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21153/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A decision will be made on the application to establish a new Educate Together school in West Wicklow within days. 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 within days.

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.