James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans for new schools in the Balbriggan area and in particular her Department's plans to accommodate schools (details supplied) in County Dublin; the reason the school lands at Castlelands north of Balbriggan are not used to accommodate the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5491/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education and Science, in conjunction with Fingal County Council, has identified sites in Balbriggan for the provision of primary school accommodation. Planning applications have been lodged to provide accommodation at two sites in the area, one to cater for one temporary sixteen classroom school on the Naul Road and a second to provide two permanent eight classroom schools at Castlelands. It is planned to deliver these schools for September 2008. Details on the schools to be accommodated at these sites will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The Department recently received a Notification of Intention to grant Planning Permission from Fingal County Council for temporary accommodation on a further site at Bremore, Flemington. However, an appeal by a third party has been made to An Bord Pleanála. It will not, now, be possible to deliver the planned temporary accommodation for the schools in question on that site in the time-frame required. My officials are examining other options for these schools.