Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 639: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to improve the arrangements for acquiring sites. [28688/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government sets out a number of measures in relation to school provision including improving arrangements for the planning for new schools.

My colleague, the Minster for Environment, Heritage and Local Government Minister Gormley published draft planning guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas for public consultation in February which reinforces the need for new development to be phased in line with the availability and provision of essential social and community infrastructure such as schools, amenities and other facilities, and for timely consultation with my Department in relation to new schools needs. Moreover, the draftguidelines state that:"No substantial residential development should proceed without an assessment of existing schools capacity or the provision of new school facilities in tandem with the development."In addition, the procedures to be adopted by planning authorities in integrating schools planning issues into their development planning processes are outlined in the Planning Guidelines on Development Plans.

My Department has been developing in partnership with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the City and County Managers Association a code of practice for planning authorities on the provision of schools in the planning system.