Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the demand for schooling through the medium of Irish is not one of the criteria listed to be taken account of by the forward planning section in its process of identifying areas in which additional schools are required; if this runs contrary to his policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46185/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the existing Gaelscoileanna servicing the demand for Irish-medium education in Dublin 12, including schools (details supplied) are full to capacity and have waiting lists, sometimes three times their capacity; the plans to cater for this demand; if consideration is being given to the proposal to open a new Gaelscoil in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46186/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether his statement that new schools will not be established for reasons unrelated to demographic growth in areas in which there is already or in which increases can be catered for by extending existing school accommodation runs counter to the status of Irish as the national language. [46187/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 to 514, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will be aware I have recently established a Technical Working Group under the Commission on School Accommodation to undertake a full review of the criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools, including Gaelscoileanna. This working group will begin work shortly and it is expected that the review of procedures for recognising primary schools will be completed and revised arrangements in place within a two year timeframe. All the partners in education will be represented during this review process, including an Foras Pátrúnachta.

In the interim period it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in areas where increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new schools. This means that new schools will not be established for reasons not related to demographic growth in areas where there is already sufficient school accommodation or where increases can be catered for by extending existing school accommodation. It, of course, remains open to existing schools to apply for capital funding under the Department's large scale Capital Building Programme to cater for long term accommodation needs to meet increasing demand for places. All such applications are assessed in the context of the existing and projected demographics of an area.