Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 453: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard the recent review carried out at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and her Department's plans to extend the said school. [19089/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Department is making a multi-million euro investment in educational infrastructure in the area to which he refers. As part of this investment, the school in question is being extended to 24 classrooms.

A technical assessment of the school premises was recently carried out and the resultant report is now under consideration. The Department will be in contact with the school authority shortly in this matter.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in relation to construction of a temporary school (details supplied) in County Meath; and the progress made to date in relation to a permanent building for the same school. [19090/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is working at a senior level with Meath County Council and the schools in Laytown in order to deal with the school accommodation needs of the area for September 2007 and onwards.

A site of approx. 15.5 acres was reserved by Meath County Council in the Laytown Local Area Plan for education provision. The land is in the ownership of two individuals. It was originally planned to use the two parcels of land for the provision of the temporary accommodation required by the Junior primary school for September 2007, but as difficulties had arisen in relation to one parcel, my Department put into effect its contingency plan. This involved a new planning application for the temporary accommodation sited entirely on the much larger second parcel of land. The owner of this land had given his written consent to the planning application.

In relation to the temporary accommodation, works commenced in early June and the Department is satisfied that the temporary primary school will be ready to open in September on the new site.

My Department has appointed a firm of Project Managers to oversee and masterplan its project to provide an education campus for Laytown/ Bettystown.

The education campus will not only provide for a 24 classroom primary school but also for a 1,000 pupil post-primary school (under the auspices of Co. Meath Vocational Education Committee) and shared community and sports facilities. The masterplan for the campus has been approved by Meath County Council Planning Department.

It is envisaged that the 24 classroom permanent school building will be delivered for September 2008 under a Design and Build contract. Tenders are currently being sought from short listed contractors. I can assure the Deputy that I am absolutely committed to delivering the new schools for Laytown on schedule.