Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 725: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to a document sent by County Meath Vocational Educational Committee to the planning section of his Department in October 2007 that outlines the second level schooling needs for Navan, County Meath; his plans to address the issues raised in this document and for the possible expansion of existing post primary schools in the Meath VEC area; if he has approved the acquisition of sites in Navan for the provision of additional new post primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27280/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in any given area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places. This approach ensures that the use of existing accommodation is maximised and that the development and support of one school over others does not occur.

As part of the Programme for Government, a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in the Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary school accommodation throughout the country.

In addition the Forward Planning Section of the Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for 2009 and onwards, including Navan.

Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and capacity of existing schools to meet demand for places. Having considered these factors decisions will be taken on the means by which emerging needs will be met within an area.

As is the case with all large capital projects currently on hand within the Department, their progression will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.