Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 752: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way a proposal to develop a new gael coláiste in a particular area should be submitted to her Department; and the way such an application would be assessed. [34297/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A new post primary school/gaelcholáiste can be established in either of two ways — either under the Department's normal planning processes or by way of an application by a sponsor/Patron. With regard to the former, it is the function of School Planning Section to assess the educational infrastructural needs of an area at both primary and post primary level and to plan, in that context, for the establishment of new schools/ gaelcholaistí where this is deemed necessary.

The process of assessing the need for new or additional facilities entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Apart from this, it is open to a prospective sponsor to apply for the establishment of a new post primary school/gaelcholáiste. In this event, among the criteria used to assess an application are:

That the needs of students likely to attend the school cannot reasonably be met by existing schools

The Patron is registered with the Department

The proposed enrolment is sufficient to ensue that the school will be viable in the long term

The enrolment will be sufficient to ensure that the school can operate a broad and balanced curriculum

The availability of suitable accommodation for the school

That the Patron will comply with the rules and regulations governing post primary schools and all relevant Sections of the Education Act, 1998.

The Department is happy to support the establishment of new Gaelcholáistí where a need is demonstrated.