Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Questions Nos. 180 and 182 of 21 February 2008, the areas of County Kildare that have been classified by his Department as developing areas; if he is satisfied that he will have sufficient school places for these developing areas; if the emphasis on developing areas means that other projects in areas classified by his Department as non-developing will be put back in order to provide sufficient school places for areas classified as developing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21017/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits my Department to establishing a Developing Areas Unit to identify where new schools are needed and to ensure that these schools are delivered in the fastest possible timeframe. The specific areas in Kildare being addressed by the Developing Areas Unit are Newbridge, Naas, Maynooth, Celbridge, Athy and Kill. The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area 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. My Department is satisfied that the approach it is taking to the identification and delivery of extra school places in rapidly developing areas will help to ensure that places will be provided when and where they are needed. Delivery of all building projects, including those in non-developing areas will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Questions Nos. 180 and 182 of 21 February 2008, the date of the next announcement regarding his Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21018/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, almost €600 million is being provided for school buildings this year to facilitate the completion of work on 67 large-scale primary schools projects that will deliver 7,000 additional permanent school places in new schools and 2,300 additional permanent school places in existing schools. It will also allow work to commence on 150 devolved projects under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme, which will provide 8,000 additional places in existing primary schools. In the post-primary sector, construction work will be completed on 19 large-scale projects which will provide 2,400 permanent school places in 4 new schools and additional accommodation and refurbishment works in 15 schools that will benefit over 7,000 pupil attendees. The capital envelope also allows for the purchase of sites to facilitate the smooth delivery of the school building programme, particularly in rapidly developing areas, as well as allowing projects to progress through architectural planning and design stages. On 1 February last, my predecessor as Minister, Deputy Hanafin, announced a tranche of projects that will be proceeding to construction this year. I intend to follow this on with further updates on the School Building and Modernisation Programme as the budgetary position for 2008 allows.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools in County Kildare currently being considered as part of his Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme; the stage that these schools are at; the location of these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21019/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, a large number of schools in the Kildare area have made applications for Major Capital Funding. All applications received from schools in the Kildare area are assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Delivery of all building projects will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. The Programme for Government commits my Department to establishing a Developing Areas Unit to identify where new schools are needed and to ensure that these schools are delivered in the fastest possible timeframe. The particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas, while also showing the Government's commitment to delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country. The specific areas in Kildare being addressed by my Developing Areas Unit are Newbridge, Naas, Maynooth, Celbridge, Athy and Kill. However, if the Deputy wishes to enquire about a particular school, my office will be happy to arrange for officials to provide the information.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Question No. 393 of 11 March 2008, the progress he has made in securing a patron for a primary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the patron has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21020/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the 8 classrooms in question will be an expansion of an existing school and will be under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop.