Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which it is expected to meet in full the accommodation requirements for all children seeking school places at both primary and secondary level in 2008; the action it is proposed to take to ensure that no children are refused admission; the degree to which schools have been identified as being expected to have difficulty meeting such requirements particularly in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19885/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the Programme for Government, my Department has established a Developing Areas Unit to identify areas of rapid population growth, assess the educational needs in these areas and plan solutions for the accommodation needs identified. As part of a fast-track programme of construction for September 2008, my Department is building five 16-classroom primary schools, 25 eight-classroom primary schools and a number of smaller projects in those areas where school accommodation is under greatest pressure.

To deliver its 2008 programme, the Developing Areas Unit has been working closely with relevant Local Authorities on the acquisition of sites and on general pre-planning issues. Project Managers, together with architectural, engineering and quantity surveying services were recruited from the private sector in October 2007 to prepare the planning applications, undertake the necessary surveys and oversee the delivery of the schools on each site. Sites for each of the projects have been identified and site master-plans have been developed by the technical teams.

An EU tendering process to establish a drawdown contract for the off-site construction of permanent and temporary accommodation has been completed. The successful tenders for the construction of each individual project have been notified and at this stage, construction of a number of the schools has already commenced. The programme for the delivery of these projects is broadly on target, however, the time-frames are very challenging and risks to the timely delivery of these new schools still exist and are being managed by the Developing Areas Unit. When taken with a number of other projects in developing areas involving extensions to existing schools, approximately 7,500 additional school places will be provided for September2008.

In the meantime, my Department is identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be needed for 2009 and onwards. This is also being done in close consultation with local authorities. My Department is satisfied that the approach which it is now taking to the identification and delivery of extra school places in rapidly developing areas will ensure that those places will be provided when and where they are needed.