Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 1038: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made regarding the acquisition of a site for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2066/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has been in contact with the Patron in relation to a possible accommodation solution for the school to which the Deputy refers. The Patron has confirmed that the option in question will be considered. The Department is now awaiting the outcome of the localised deliberations and the Patron's views in this matter.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 1039: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date regarding the provision of a new school for the Termonabbey and Aston Village area of Drogheda, County Louth; if the site has been purchased; if a patron has been identified for the school; the facilities and accommodation that will be provided; if a playground, indoor gymnasium and hall will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2102/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department plans to open a new primary school for the Aston Village area of Drogheda next September. The school will ultimately be a 24-classroom school, however, the Department is planning to install an 8-classroom school together with ancillary accommodation initially to allow the school open in September 2008. The Department will subsequently extend this school to a full-size 24-classroom school with the full range of ancillary accommodation appropriate to a school of this size including a General Purpose Room for indoor PE activities and outdoor play areas. Gymnasiums are not provided at primary level.

An application for Patronage has been made to the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC). I expect to be in a position to make an announcement on the outcome of all applications before the NSAC in April. The Department is currently in the process of acquiring a site for the new school. Due the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment further on this aspect of the matter until such a time as the acquisition has been completed.