Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if this Deputy will be supplied with a copy of reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40394/08]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40395/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department initiated a review of post-primary provision in the New Ross area principally to achieve rationalisation among the existing five providers. The review arose following the receipt of applications for capital funding from the managerial authorities of all post primary providers and against a backdrop of declining enrolments. The scope of the review was subsequently extended to include the five primary schools in the area. One of these schools has since closed.

In view of the extent of the review, a facilitator was appointed to consult with the local providers and to identify the key issues in relation to primary and post-primary school provision in the area. The facilitator's report is the one referred to by the Deputy and is the only one of this nature commissioned by my Department in this area. I have asked the Planning and Building Unit in my Department to arrange for the issue of a copy of the report to the Deputy.

The School Planning Section of my Department subsequently prepared a discussion paper for the Trustees of both the primary and post primary schools to progress the matter further. Given the intervening period since the facilitator's Report, the change in demographics etc., the purpose of the Paper was to put forward for discussion the Department's view on how best the primary and post primary educational infrastructural needs of the area in question could be met into the future.

A decision was subsequently taken on the rationalisation aspect of primary provision in one of the Parishes concerned. As with all large scale building projects, the progression of the project resulting from this development, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Discussions are ongoing among the Trustees in relation to the rationalisation of the post-primary schools.