Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide for the future demand for places in secondary schools in Maynooth, Kilcock, Johnstownbridge, Clane, Sallins and Kill, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31800/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that many areas located within close proximity to Dublin, similar to those referred to by the Deputy, continue to experience population growth, a position that almost inevitably places some strain on existing educational provision. In order to proactively plan for such areas of increased growth my Department is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment. As a matter of course meetings are arranged with local authorities to establish the location, scale and pace of any major proposed developments and their possible implications for school provision so as to ensure as far as possible the timely delivery of the required education infrastructure. The primary schools in Sallins and Kill are in the catchment area of Naas for post-primary purposes. In Naas at post primary level, the management authority of St. Patrick's Post Primary School, Co. Kildare V.E.C., is currently progressing plans to re-locate the school and extend capacity to 1000 pupil places. Additionally, an extension project has been completed at St. Mary's College, Naas which increases capacity at the school to 900 pupils. A similar extension was recently completed at Meánscoil Iognáid Rís, Naas and a further extension at the school is currently in architectural planning. In Maynooth a project to extend the capacity of Maynooth Post Primary School to 1,000 pupil places is currently being considered. The Department's Area Development Plan for Leixlip-Kilbeggan (the N4/M4 area) took account of the fact that the population along this route is expected to increase and recognised that such a significant population increase will result in substantial accommodation requirements at both first and second levels. It is a recommendation of the Commission that in the medium/long term, the need for a second level educational facility will arise in Enfield. The provision of this second level facility will facilitate pupils from the Johnstownbridge area.