Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 713: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the anticipated completion date for the new national school in Laytown, County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33824/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has already provided a 16-classroom facility to meet the immediate accommodation requirements in Laytown. The new 24-classroom school building will be provided by my Department under a design and build contract. The procurement process for this project is now nearing completion and it is expected that the contract will be awarded very soon. As part of the tender competition, the initial design and layout for the school has already been done and some pre-planning discussions have taken place with Meath County Council in order to help ensure that it meets their requirements.

Following the placing of the design and build contract, the first task for the successful contractor will be to submit the application for planning permission for the new school. Given the preparatory work already done it is expected that the application for planning permission can be done within a matter of weeks following the appointment. I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing the new school in Laytown at the earliest possible stage.