Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will allocate funding to commence the construction of a gaelscoil (details supplied) in County Cork for which a site and planning permission has been obtained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4034/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A suitable site has been acquired by the Office of Public Works on behalf of my Department for this project. The long term projected staffing, on which the accommodation needs will be based, has been determined and notified to the school authority. The building project required to deliver the new school will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if approaches were made to the owners of the site where a school (details supplied) in Dublin 22 currently stands; if so, the reason the decision was not made to build the school building there; if alternative sites within a closer proximity to Clondalkin Village were sought; and if the parents were consulted before the decision was made to move the school to Deansrath. [4038/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has acknowledged the need for a site for a permanent building for the school to which the Deputy refers. The site on which the school is currently located is not available, however, a 0.93 acre site adjacent to the school was offered by the owner. This is even smaller than the current school site and is not adequate to provide a modern purpose built 16 classroom school with the full range of ancillary accommodation which all new schools enjoy. Circa 2.5 acres is the minimum amount of land required.

Enormous difficulties were encountered in trying to acquire a site in what is a built up urban area. In fact, no suitable site at all emerged under the acquisition process. In the circumstances the Department had to consider other options and was fortunate that the County of Dublin Vocational Education Committee not alone had land that could be developed but was willing to make this land available.

There are any number of schools up and down the country that start in one location and are permanently located in another. It also has to be remembered that unlike other primary schools, Gaelscoileanna do not have catchment areas and are not, therefore, confined to being accommodated in specific locations although the Department will always try to re-locate schools as close to an original location if this is possible. It is not realistic, however, in a large urban area to expect this to be easily achieved. School communities themselves are usually aware of local land issues so re-locations are rarely if ever a problem particularly when what is on offer is a multi-million Euro investment to ensure that the children concerned have a comfortable high quality learning environment.

The Department engaged with the Board of Management in this matter which comprises parents' representatives among others. This is the correct protocol.