Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that sites designated for schools to be built in north County Dublin are not being purchased from the developer three to four years after the development has been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32190/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The School Planning Section of the Department works with the Planning Department of Fingal County Council for the purpose of reserving sites for primary and post primary school provision. It is the Department's aim to deliver infrastructure commensurate with the delivery of housing developments.

As a general rule, the Department will always seek to maximise existing facilities ahead of making brand new provision and this may result in a reserved site not being developed out for a number of years. In other cases, there may be difficulties surrounding the acquisitions of reserved sites. In such circumstances, and where new schools are required, the Department will seek to provide a school on a temporary site until the site acquisition has been completed.

It must also be borne in mind that while housing developments may be completed, there is generally a lead in time before there is sufficient pupil output to warrant the purchase and development of any given site. This situation is monitored through contacts with local authorities and any existing schools.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Department recently entered into a partnership approach with Fingal County Council to ensure that new schools can be provided to match the rapid pace of housing development in that area while at the same time providing important facilities for the community.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the school planning projections of the Department, Fingal County Council will identify and acquire appropriate sites where schools with enhanced sporting, community and arts facilities will be built to the benefit of both the school and the wider community. It is hoped that this agreement will help to fast-track the delivery of schools and community facilities throughout Fingal.