Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she expects a final area development plan for the north Dublin, east Meath, south Louth area to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4931/07]

Jim Glennon (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to ensure the timely provision of extra school places in the rapidly developing areas of north Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4932/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 200 together.

The Department recently published the Draft Area Development Plan for north Dublin, east Meath and south Louth on 25th January 2007. The Commission on School Accommodation will now conduct a public consultation process on the Draft Plans and it has indicated that Oral hearings will commence on Monday 26th March. It is not possible at this stage to determine the extent of the oral hearings, but the last study undertaken elicited 152 written submissions and 29 oral hearings. This is a considerably bigger study so a substantial response is expected to the advertisement inviting submissions and an increase in the number of orals to be heard.

It is the Commission's intention to complete and publish the study by late May/mid June this year. When the final plan is published, it will become the framework against which capital investment for the area will be made for the foreseeable future.

As the Deputy will be aware the recent Census preliminary figures confirm the Fingal area of Dublin as the fastest growing area in the country. The Department is of the view that between primary and post primary level, some 20 new schools will be required there over the coming years. The challenge is to provide these schools in line with or ahead of demand for pupil places.

The Draft Plan shows that considerable interventions have already been made by the Department to increase pupil places and these interventions are being backed up by a significant capital investment programme. At primary level in Swords, the Department is providing three new school buildings for Swords Educate Together NS, Gaelscoil Brian Boroimhe and Gaelscoil an Duinnínigh. An extension is also being provided to St. Cronan's Senior NS, Brackenstown. The Department has a further reserved site in Swords for primary provision and it is in discussion with the local authority for another.

In Balbriggan, the Department is providing a new 16 classroom school for an Educate Together N.S. which opened in 2005. In September 2006 the Department granted provisional recognition to Gaelscoil Bhaile Brigín, which opened with an enrolment of 35 pupils. St. Teresa's NS, Balbriggan is included among the schools recently given approval for the appointment of a design team to progress an extension project.

There are a further two sites reserved in Balbriggan for primary school purposes and the Department will move to acquire and develop these as the need is identified. In Rush and Lusk approval was recently given to Lusk NS and St. Catherine's NS, Kenure to appoint design teams to progress extension projects. The Rush/Lusk Educate Together NS, was recently granted permanent recognition and its temporary accommodation is grant aided by my Department.

Two sites have been reserved for further primary provision in Lusk, one of which is currently being acquired under the Fingal School Model process, for the purposes of accommodating the Rush/Lusk Educate Together N.S. In Rush a site has also been reserved for primary school development. My Department has also reserved two sites in Skerries, one of which is currently being acquired under the Fingal School Model process.

In Donabate/Portrane a new Educate Together school opened in 2002. This school received permanent recognition from my Department in 2004. It currently enrols two classes of Junior Infants and is accommodated in temporary classrooms which are grant aided by my Department.

At post primary level, a new 1,000 pupil post primary school is being delivered in Donabate under a design and build contract. A new 1,000 pupil post primary school is also being delivered in Balbriggan under the Department's PPP Programme and the Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan was among the schools included on a recent list of projects to go to tender and construction for an extension project.

Officials in the School Planning Section of my Department will continue to monitor the situation in north Dublin and are in regular contact with school principals on the ground and will take all measures necessary to ensure that there will be sufficient places for all children seeking primary education in the area.