David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 549: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the need to provide more secondary school places in Midleton as a result of the growing population; if she has asked for and received the projected enrolment figures for second level schools in east Cork for at least the next five years; the plans she has put in train in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17207/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department has a number of proactive strategies in place to ensure that the accommodation requirements for the schools in developing areas, such as Midleton and East Cork are addressed in a manner that will meet the long term education needs of the population. The process for assessing the need for new or additional accommodation facilities at primary or post primary level in any given area entails consideration of relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and existing school capacity to meet current and future demand.

As part of this process, the Department is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development plans or variations to development plans. In addition, the Department meets with the relevant local authorities to ascertain the extentof development foreseen and the implications for school planning. This process helps to make informed decisions in relation to long term accommodation needs of the schools in the area and in particular for those schools that have submitted applications for major capital investment in their buildings.