Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether the site being proposed by Fingal County Council at Kellystown as a future post-primary school is suitable in terms accessibility, proximity to the homes of the likely student population and zoning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24772/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As pointed out to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question 461 on the 16th of October last, the Department works in partnership with Fingal County Council under the Fingal School Model Agreement to acquire sites for educational provision in the Dublin 15 area.

A site under this Model is being actively pursued to provide additional post primary places in the Castleknock area. The exact location of the new site has yet to be determined.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, with reference to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 2 October 2007, her Department keeps a copy of each county and city development plan and maps on file; if her staff are capable of reading these maps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24773/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 435: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department maintains an inventory or map of sites that have been reserved for new schools by local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24776/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the mechanism that exists within her Department to keep a record of reserved school sites and to ensure that they are not developed for another use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24777/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 432, 435 and 436 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, Local Authorities are obliged by statute to refer draft local area development plans to the Department for observation and comment so that lands can be zoned and reserved for future education use. This process has resulted in numerous sites being reserved for education purposes particularly in the rapidly developing areas so as to ensure that there will be sufficient land set aside and available for the future development of education infrastructure.

While the Local Area Development Plans and their associated maps are an essential tool, the process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary and post-primary level in any given area also entails a broader consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for school places.

In this context, officials of School Planning Section meet regularly with Local Authorities to establish the location, scale and pace of any major proposed developments to ensure, as far as possible the timely delivery of any required education infrastructure.

All relevant correspondence and local area development plans, including maps, are held in the School Planning Section of the Department.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will locate the new pilot VEC national school in Diswellstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24774/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will open a pilot VEC national school in Dublin 15 in September 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24775/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

It is still intended that the proposed new model of national community school will be introduced on a pilot basis in September 2008. A specific location for the school has yet to be decided.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, with reference to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 2 October 2007, she has confirmed the existence of this reserved site which is clearly shown in the Fingal County development plan maps 2004 to 2009; if she will acquire same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24778/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has already made significant interventions in the particular part of Dublin 15 concerned. This area is now served by served by three primary schools one of which was established by the Department this year. Another is operating from a purpose built 24 classroom building and plans are being advanced to expand the third to a 32 classroom facility. My Department is monitoring the situation and will be making extra accommodation available for 2008 if this is necessary. The site to which the Deputy refers is reserved for educational provision. However, my Department is focusing on acquiring a much larger reserved site in the area which is considered to be more suitable to the area's current and projected needs.