Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 852: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has taken action, either by way of circular or letter, to request county managers or their planning units at local government level, to co-operate with the forward planning unit or school building unit of the Department of Education and Science in Tullamore, County Offaly in order to ensure accurate and advance information in relation to planning developments within their areas which may cause an increase in the school going population and hence, a requirement to plan and build new schools or classrooms which are sufficient to meet the needs of the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11141/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 853: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will direct the planning authorities to require that land, rezoned from agricultural to residential use, will impose an obligation upon developers who apply for mixed residential development planning permission to include provision of lands for a school or schools free of charge in order to provide for orderly and integrated development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11142/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 852 and 853 together.

Section 10(2)(l) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires a development plan to include objectives for "the provision, or facilitation of the provision, of services for the community including, in particular, schools, crèches and other education and childcare facilities". This requirement is restated in my Department's Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published in June 2007, and which are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

I announced the publication of The Provision of Schools and the Planning System — A Code of Practice in August 2008, jointly with the Minister for Education and Science, and the Minister of State for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas. The Code of Practice, which was agreed between the two Departments, in conjunction with the City and County Managers' Association, sets out the roles, responsibilities and specific actions to be taken in relation to forecasting future demand for school places and planning for schools provision through the development plan, local area plan and development management processes.

The Code of Practice outlines the principles and scope for integrating schools provision with the development plan process and, in particular, towards linking anticipated levels of demand for school places with housing strategies and the provision of large-scale residential developments, as well as reinforcing effective early between the planning authorities and the Department of Education and Science. The Code of Practice also highlights the necessity for co-operation between the Department of Education and Science and local authorities on school site identification and acquisition, and that Department is working with the City and County Managers' Association on the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure the timely and efficient acquisition of school sites.

The Code of Practice issued as statutory guidelines under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and was circulated to all city and county councils at the end of August 2008. A copy of the Code of Practice is also available on my Department's website.