Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 500: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is in a position to agree the site for a school (details supplied) as a site and new school is urgently needed as the current school building is substandard and overcrowded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37797/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, was requested to explore the possibility of acquiring a site for the school in question. Following an advertisement seeking proposals in relation to possible sites a number of responses were received. Six sites have been visited and their technical suitability as a location for the school was considered. Following this process, a site on the existing Tipperary Rural and Business Institute (TRBDI) campus emerged as the preferred option. This site is in the ownership of the Institute. The TRBDI, however, has proposed to the Department that its campus be relocated to a large-scale technology park. Expressions of Interest were sought by TRBDI from the private sector to determine what exactly could be provided at the technology park in exchange for the Institute's current property in Clonmel. The Expressions of Interest sought required the incorporation of a suitable site for the school on the current campus or on an alternative site approved by the Department and the Office of Public Works. The Expressions of Interest received by TRBDI are currently being evaluated. I want to assure the Deputy again that the permanent accommodation needs of this school are being addressed and the provision of a permanent building for the school will be progressed in the context of the School Buildings and Modernisation Programme when a suitable site has been acquired.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the transfer of an institute (details supplied) including the question of a preferred developer and the timescale for the commencement and completion of building works and the actual transfer of the institute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37798/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2005, my Department gave the Institute to which the Deputy refers approval to proceed with seeking expressions of interest from private sector property developers in this matter. This was advertised in June 2005. The expressions of interest received were evaluated in June 2006 by an evaluation committee and short-listed. The short-listed companies have been asked to provide more detailed bids. These bids are due to be submitted to the Institute shortly. Once evaluated, one or more bidders will then be invited to enter into detailed negotiations with the Institute. The Institute will then have to make a final proposal to my Department for consideration and approval.

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 502: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if discussions have taken place between her Department and the local authority in Westmeath, with the necessity to provide an additional secondary school in Mullingar west to facilitate the significant increase in population that has now occurred in the Mullingar area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37799/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are five post primary schools serving Mullingar. Three of the schools have applications for major capital funding with the Department for extension/refurbishment works. One of the projects is in architectural planning and the other two are under active consideration. Officials in School Planning Section have met with Westmeath County Council to discuss educational infrastructure in Mullingar. In addition, the Department carried out a review of primary and post primary provision in Mullingar recently and it is satisfied that the existing post primary schools in the area can, between them, cater for the demand for pupil places in the short to medium term. The Department accepts, however, that Mullingar is a growing area and it will factor this into its assessment of applications on hand for capital funding.

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department is examining the proposal to construct a secondary school at Kinnegad, County Westmeath in the context of the recent Commission M4-M6 report; if discussions have taken place with Westmeath County Council with a view to securing a site for such a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37800/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The N4/M4 Area Development Plan indicates that a post primary school will not be required for Kinnegad until post 2011. The Department will ask the local authority to reserve a site at the appropriate time for this development.