Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1403: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on contacts with South Dublin County Council in respect of the need for new school accommodation in the Tallaght Region arising from the continued housing accommodation development in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29773/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary and post-primary level in any given area entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for school places. Officials of my Department's School Planning Section meet on a regular basis with the Planning Department of South Dublin County Council with a view to identifying the need for additional educational provision and reserving sites for schools, where required. As part of this process, my Department has received details from South Dublin County Council with regards to the proposed new Tallaght town centre, and in particular, details regarding the scale of development and its possible implications for the population of Tallaght. A study of current capacity in existing primary and post-primary schools was also undertaken in the Department and arising from this, a submission has been made on estimated school site and school requirements for inclusion in the local area plan. My Department has requested that two sites be reserved for the provision for four additional primary schools. Owing to the level of spare capacity in existing Post-Primary schools in the area, my Department is not proposing additional post-primary provision at this time.