Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 624: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the timescale envisaged for the provision of the secondary school to serve the expanding population in the area covered by the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council action area plans for Stepaside and Kilternan. [22188/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Forward Planning Section of the Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level over coming years. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and capacity of existing schools to meet demand for places. Having considered these factors decisions will be taken on the means by which emerging needs will be met within an area. Educational accommodation requirements in the Stepaside/Kilternan areas, and any subsequent issues which may arise, will be considered in this context.

The Department has requested Dunlaoire/Rathdown County Council to make reservations for two sites for future post primary education in this area. While my Department has no immediate plans to purchase these sites it will continue to monitor the demand for school places in the Stepaside/Kilternan area to ensure that any extra demand for post primary school places is met in a timely manner.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 625: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in the past six months on a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and the progress that he expects will be made in the next six months. [22200/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputies refer was included in my announcement on 12 February of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction during 2009. Representatives from the board of management and the design team of the school attended a briefing in my Department's offices in Tullamore on 26 March at which they were apprised of the next steps necessary to progress the project to tender and construction.

A Stage 2(a) submission was approved by my Department in March 2009. The Design Team are currently working on a Stage 2(b) submission which, when completed, they will then submit to my Department. To assist the work on Stage 2(b) my Department has recently approved the appointment of a consultant planner to assist the design team in responding to issues raised by the local authority. The school will then apply for planning permission, following which a Stage 2(b) report, including detailed design, bill of quantities, planning permission, pre-tender cost check and final tender documents will be submitted to my Department for approval. Following receipt of the Stage 2(b) submission my Department will revert to the school regarding next steps in the progression of the project towards tender and construction.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 626: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in the past six months on a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and the progress he expects that will be made in the next six months. [22201/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Officials in my Department have been in touch with the Patron and the school authorities recently. I can confirm that detailed designs for the school to which the Deputy refers are finalised and a pre-planning meeting will take place this week with my officials, the school authorities and the Planners in Cork County Council. The Department expects to be ready to lodge planning permission in July. Further progression of this project to tender and construction is dependent on the Patron confirming title to the two plots of land which he is currently in the process of acquiring for the school project.