Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 806: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if plans for the new secondary school for Gorey have been prepared; if so, when it is expected they will be lodged with Wexford County Council; the number of patrons who have expressed interest in becoming patrons of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12232/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Gorey is one of the areas currently designated by my Department is a rapidly developing area. The Developing Areas Unit of my Department has examined the supply and demand of school places in Gorey and, in this context, a site has been identified and negotiations for its acquisition are at an advanced stage. A masterplan for the site has been drafted which includes two primary schools of up to 16 classrooms each and a 1000 pupil post-primary school. My Department has applied for planning permission for the first phases of the two primary schools consisting of 8 classrooms each. The 1000 pupil post-primary school referred to by the Deputy is being considered in the context of my Department's Public Private Partnership programme.

The first bundle consisting of four post-primary schools — two in Co. Laois and two in Co. Offaly — are in procurement and is likely to go to construction this year. The second bundle, consisting of six schools — 5 post-primary and 1 primary school in Counties Cork, Limerick, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow — are in pre-procurement and will be offered to the market shortly. I intend to announce further PPP project bundles during the year and the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered in this context. The issue of patronage for the proposed post-primary school will be decided in due course.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Progression of all projects to tender and construction, including the project in question, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme in which the main focus is to deliver school places within rapidly developing areas. The progression of all school building projects will be considered in this context. I announced recently a list of schools which are due to go to construction in 2008. I intend to make further announcements regarding projects that will be proceeding to construction during the course of the year as the school building programme is rolled out.