Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of meetings she or her officials or officials or consultants appointed by her have had with officials or consultants appointed by Kildare County Council in seeking to determine the educational needs for County Kildare in the drawing up of the County Kildare Development Plan 2005 to 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35991/06]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a submission was sought from her and if so, if a submission was made to Kildare County Council as part of drawing up of the Kildare County Council Development Plan 2005 to 2011; the normal procedure that applies in regard to her input or overview in regard to development plans and the need to address educational needs as a result of such plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35992/06]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if in view of the increase in population in County Kildare she has drawn up a contingency plan to deal with such an increase in regard to the educational needs of Kildare; the meetings with interested groups she has had in regard to the matter; if she sought or if submissions were made to her in regard to the matter; the groups or interested parties that made such submissions; if further interaction has taken place as a result of such submissions or meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35993/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 233, inclusive, together.

My Department is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment. As a matter of course meetings are arranged with local authorities to establish the location, scale and pace of any major proposed developments and their possible implications for school provision. As part of this procedure the Department made its submission to the Plan in October, 2004.

In addition, the School Planning Section of my Department is working proactively with the local authority to explore the possibility of the development of school provision in tandem with the development of community facilities. This enhanced cooperation has the effect of minimising the Department's land requirements and thus reducing site costs while at the same time providing local communities with new schools with enhanced facilities.