Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received an application for recognition of a new school (details supplied); and the way the application will be administered by her Department. [14906/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from my Department are currently in receipt of correspondence in relation to the matter that the Deputy raises. The correspondence will be considered in the context of the overall provision of post-primary school places in the area to which the deputy refers over the coming years.

In general, new or additional second level all Irish schools can be established in either of two ways — either under the Department's normal planning processes or by way of an application by a sponsor/Patron.

With regard to the former, it is the function of School Planning and Building Unit to assess the educational infrastructural needs of an area at both primary and post primary level and to plan, in that context, for the establishment of new schools/ gaelcholáistí where this is deemed necessary.

The process of assessing the need for new or additional facilities entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Apart from this, it is open to a prospective sponsor to apply for the establishment of a new post primary school/ gaelcholáiste. In this event, among the criteria used to assess an application are:

That the needs of students likely to attend the school cannot reasonably be met by existing schools

The Patron is registered with the Department

The proposed enrolment is sufficient to ensue that the school will be viable in the long term

The enrolment will be sufficient to ensure that the school can operate a broad and balanced curriculum- The availability of suitable accommodation for the school.

That the Patron will comply with the rules and regulations governing post primary schools and all relevant Sections of the Education Act, 1998.

The Department is happy to support the establishment of new Gaelcholáistí where a need is demonstrated, bearing in mind optimal school size and other provision.