Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of the 3,300 primary schools which are owned in whole or in part by the State through her Department or the Office of Public Works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6051/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the vast majority of primary schools are owned by the relevant Patron reflecting the traditional roles of the Patrons, through the Churches, of providing lands and buildings for schools. In recent years the Department has been progressively acquiring sites for schools and it is anticipated that this activity will be increased in the coming years. Presently the specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. Following a process of restructuring in the Department's Planning and Building Unit, a new section dealing with site acquisition and property management has been established. This section will, inter alia, in the coming months be developing an asset register to record such information.