James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the chronic under-provision for both primary and secondary school places in Lusk, Balbriggan, Balrothery, Donabate and Swords; her immediate plans to address this serious and stressful situation for parents and their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13719/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Developing Areas Unit in my Department, dedicated solely to progressing school planning in rapidly developing areas, building on improvements that have already been made in recent years.

This Developing Areas Unit, in conjunction with Fingal County Council has been working to identify and acquire sites, under the Fingal School Model, for rapidly growing areas, including the areas to which the Deputy refers.

The specific plans for each area to which the Deputy refers for September 2008 are as follows:

Provision of a new 16 classroom temporary school in Lusk to facilitate the relocation and expansion of an existing school. Phase I for occupation in September 2008 will include the provision of the sixteen mainstream classrooms with appropriate resource and ancillary space.

Provision of a new 16 classroom temporary school on the Naul Road in Balbriggan to facilitate the relocation and expansion of an existing school. Phase I for occupation in September 2008 will include the provision of the sixteen mainstream classrooms with appropriate resource and ancillary space. In addition the Department is acquiring a second site in Castlelands Balbriggan for the relocation and expansion of a further two existing schools in Balbriggan. Phase I for occupation in September 2008 will include the provision a sixteen classroom school with appropriate resource and ancillary space and an eight classroom school with appropriate resource and ancillary space.

Provision of a new temporary post primary school in Donabate under the patronage of Co. Dublin VEC which will be ready for occupation in September 2008. Provision of a new 16 classroom school in Swords with the provision of the first eight classrooms with appropriate resource and ancillary space being provided as phase I for occupation in September 2008.

With regard to Balrothery, the Department is cognisant of the site restrictions which would impede further expansion of the existing school. Greenfield provision for this school will be considered in the context of the Department's school building and modernisation programme.

It is envisaged that the additional primary school accommodation being provided in 2008, as outlined above, will dissipate the pressure on accommodation being experienced by existing schools in the areas outlined. The Developing Areas Unit will continue to monitor developments in these areas and will continue to work closely with Fingal County Council to meet the long term needs of the Fingal area.