Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason he did not respond to the request from a school (details supplied) for a new primary school; the further reason he could not have located the proposed pilot community primary school in another location of high population growth, bearing in mind that the school has been in existence for some time and has campaigned for an Educate Together school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19717/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The New Schools Advisory Committee was established to assess applications for the recognition of new primary schools and to make recommendations to the Minister. An application for recognition, from September 2008, of the new school to which the Deputy refers was received by the New Schools Advisory Committee. As the proposed school was deemed to meet the general criteria for new primary schools, the Committee recommended that it be granted provisional recognition from September 2008.

In granting provisional recognition to a new school, cognisance needs to be given to the potential future commitment of capital resources that is likely to arise. My Department must ensure efficiency and equity in the allocation of limited resources. In that context, and given the significant additional levels of primary school provision made in the area in question in the past 3 years, my predecessor was satisfied that sufficient provision has been made to serve the current and future population in the short to medium term and that appropriate diversity of provision has been provided. On that basis, provisional recognition has not been granted to the proposed new school at this time. This does not preclude recognition at a future date. The Patron has been informed.

With regard the new pilot community primary school, this school was established in 2007 under the provisional patronage of the Catholic Church to meet educational needs of the Diswellstown/Porterstown area. Pending acquisition of a site in this area, the school was located in temporary accommodation in a VEC owned building on the site of the Institute of Horology, Blanchardstown. From September 2008, this school will come under the patronage of the VEC under the new pilot primary school model and will be relocated to a site on the Porterstown Road to continue to serve the Diswellstown/Porterstown area.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the recommendations made by the new schools advisory committee to his Department since the NSAC's establishment in 2002; his Department's decision in each case; the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19352/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of occasions on which his Department has gone against the advice of the new schools advisory committee with regard to recognition of new schools since the NSAC's establishment in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19351/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 116 together.

The New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC) was established in 2002 on foot of recommendations of the Commission on School Accommodation on a non-statutory basis. The Committee is charged with making recommendations to me in relation to applications received for new Primary schools using a set of published criteria. Under Section 10 of the Education Act, 1998 as Minister I am empowered to recognise schools for the purposes of the Act. The vast majority of NSAC recommendations are accepted; however, there have been five occasions where NSAC recommendations were not followed.

In 2007, the NSAC was unable to look favourably on two applications received due to inadequate enrolment information provided by the proposers. However, in view of the population growth in the locations to be served by the proposed schools it was decided to grant recognition. In 2008, the NSAC was unable to look favourably on one application received due to inadequate enrolment information provided by the proposer. Again based on population growth in the proposed area this school was recognised and is expected to open in September. While the NSAC looked favourably on two separate applications, one application was not granted recognition pending the outcome of an assessment of the proposed patron body by my Department, while the second application was not granted recognition at this time, given the significant additional levels of primary school provision made in the area in the past 3 years.

Since 2002 the Committee has considered applications and made reports and recommendations on six occasions. I have instructed my officials to provide the details requested by the Deputy in relation to the recommendations made by the NSAC to my Department.