Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 724: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the criteria used by her Department for the sanction of new primary schools; if her attention has been drawn to the need for a new primary school in Edenderry, County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28093/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There is an open and transparent process in place for the recognition of new primary schools. As part of the process, the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC), which is an independent body, assesses all applications for recognition against published criteria. These criteria include: There must be evidence that: The proposed school meets a need that cannot reasonably be met within existing provision.

The local community is consulted in advance.

The patron has been registered as such by the Minister for Education and Science.

A board of management will be appointed in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Education and Science.

The Rules for National Schools will be complied with.

The proposed school has a minimum initial enrolment of 17 junior infants and a minimum projected enrolment of 51 pupils for the third year of operation.

All pupils are at least four years of age on 30th September of the year in which the school is due to commence operation.

In accordance with section 10(2)(e) of the Education Act 1998, Proposed interim school accommodation must comply with the Planning and Development Act, 2000, the Planning and Development Regulations: 2001, the Building Regulations 1991 to 1997 (including the Building Control Regulations) and the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations: 2001 and any modifications, statutory instruments or orders made in accordance with these Acts.

The school will follow the Primary School Curriculum of the Department of Education and Science.

The school will employ recognised primary school teachers. The NSAC's annual programme of work culminates in a report to the Minister with recommendations on the granting or otherwise of recognition in individual cases. Appeals against a refusal to grant recognition can be made to an independent Appeals Board.

With regard to the application for the recognition of a new school for Edenderry for next September, this application was processed through the independent process which I have outlined. Having assessed the application, the NSAC recommended that recognition be refused and this decision was upheld by the Independent Appeals Board. My Department acknowledges the need for extra primary provision in Edenderry and it will be assessing this need within the framework of the recommendation of the N4/M4 Area Development Plan which was published last year following widespread public consultation.