David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 477 of 3 October 2006, when the current assessment began and when it will be completed; the person who is carrying out the assessment; if similar assessments are underway for other primary schools in the east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34237/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The initial application from the school sought to have its accommodation needs met by way of a devolved grant under the Additional Classroom Accommodation scheme 2006. While acknowledging that the school had an immediate deficit of mainstream accommodation which was addressed by way of approval to rent a mainstream classroom, my officials' preliminary appraisal of the school's longterm accommodation need indicated that a more thorough assessment of the projected long term staffing, on which the school's overall accommodation needs will be based, was required with a view to providing the necessary building project under the traditional building programme.

Projects developed under the traditional building programme are generally assessed having regard to, inter alia:

current and projected enrolments,

demographic trends in the area,

recent and planned residential developments which are likely to impact on the school and where necessary liaison with the local planning authorities, and

consultation with the School authority.

In this regard, my Department will be meeting with Cork County Council in the coming weeks to discuss potential and anticipated developments in the general area in which the school is located. Following on from the findings of this meeting my Department will give further consideration, in consultation with the school authorities, to the likely accommodation needs of the school.

The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to state when the assessment needs of this school or the schools in the area which have applications with my Department will be completed. The Deputy can be assured that the matter will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.