David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has conducted research into the projected enrolment requirements for second level schools in Midleton, County Cork for the next six to eight years; if he will make these figures available; his plans to increase the number of second level school places in Midleton in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7958/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Forward Planning Section of my Department is currently identifying areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for 2009 and onwards. This involves detailed consideration of factors such as population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet demand for places. As a matter of course, there is on-going liaison between my Department and local authorities to establish the location scale and pace of any proposed major housing developments and their possible implications for school provision.

As part of the Middleton Special Local Area Plan, the Local Authority has, on advice from my Department, made appropriate zonings for primary and post primary schools to meet the future educational requirements of the area. Having analysed the demographic statistics in the Midleton area, my Department has found that there is no requirement for a new post-primary school in the short term based on current primary school enrolments. However, my Department is keeping the situation under review, including a proposal for the future development of up to 2,500 houses in the area. My Department is liaising with Cork County Council with regard to the timing of future developments and the decision as to when a new post-primary school will be required in Midleton will be based on the rate and pace of development and the feasibility of extending the current schools in the area.

Progress on the development of additional schools together with any applications for capital funding from existing providers will be considered for progression in the context of my Department's School Building and Modernisation programme.