Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 307: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when her Department will be in a position to determine the long-term projected staffing figure for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; her Department's source of information with regard to the figures for demographic trends and housing developments in the area; if her Department has contacted Kerry County Council or Tralee Town Council regarding areas zoned educational in the development plans; if her Department's attention has been drawn to the fact the there are lands zoned educational in Farranstephen, The Kerries, Tralee on the Kerry County Council Development Plan; if her Department has contacted the landowner there; if her Department is aware that Tralee Town Council was taking submissions up to 12 December 2007 with regard to the new development plan being prepared by the local authority and that the draft plan is being finalised before May 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35770/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An application for capital funding towards the provision of new school building has been received from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area will be required in order to determine the long term projected staffing figure on which the school's accommodation needs will be based. Once the long term projection has been determined and agreed with the school authorities the required building project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation programme.

Generally my Department will use a variety of information sources when examining demographic trends and housing developments, these would include, inter alia, the Census, County Development Plans / Town Development Plans, Local Area Plans as well as current and projected enrolment patterns.

The Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to investigate the acquisition of a suitable site. Due to the commercial sensitivities involved, I do not propose to comment any further in relation to a specific site as referred to by the Deputy.

The Deputy should note that 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. From the documentation received in my Department, I am advised that the local authority in question have issued an "Issues Paper" leading to the review of the existing development plan and that the deadline for receipt of observations set by the authority is today. My Department have submitted observations to the town council in relation to the matter. My Department is also examining the 'Issues Document' published by Kerry County Council with a view to seeking further engagement and discussions with the planning authority as their review of the current Development Plan progresses.