Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to provide land for schools in developing areas at reasonable costs and in good time to deal with the need for school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25925/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the provisions of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, do not place any onus on developers to provide school sites other than at market rates. I am keeping an open mind as to whether legislative change might be of assistance or prove the best way forward here. In this regard, my Department has commenced exploratory discussions with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I would remind the House, however, that any changes in this area would require careful consideration in the context of constitutional protection for private property and indeed in weighing up how any reduction in the price per acre of any land given for schools development might impact on the unit costs and affordability of houses developed on the remaining lands.