Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the outcome of the discussion between her Department and a school (details supplied) in north Dublin regarding the shortfall in school places over the next four to five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4541/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, a Developing Areas Unit has been established in the Department of Education and Science to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas including Balbriggan. The particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas including Balbriggan, while also showing the Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country.

The Department is currently pursuing the provision a site to provide two sixteen classroom primary schools (including Special Needs Units) and a 1,000 pupil post primary school. Phase one of this development will be provided in September 2008 with the installation of two eight classroom off site constructed schools. In addition, a separate site is being pursued to provide a further 16 classroom new school on a temporary site, again for September 2008. Both planned developments are subject to Planning Permission.

The Deputy will appreciate that due to commercial sensitivities, I cannot comment on specific sites at this time, however, I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to work very closely with Fingal County Council to meet the needs of the Fingal area, including those to which he refers, for next year and beyond. With regard to the school to which the Deputy specifically refers, the Department approved the provision of one additional mainstream classroom for September 2007 to cater for additional enrolments. However, I understand that due to site restrictions it would prove difficult to expand this school further. Greenfield provision for this school will be considered in the context of the additional provision being made in the area.