George Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the proposal to establish a gaelcholáiste in South Dublin; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the figures from Gaelscoileanna Teo indicate a doubling in the number of pupils leaving primary level Gaelscoileanna since 2001 in this area; his views on whether this provides demographic evidence in support of the case for the opening of a gaelcholáiste in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40415/09]

George Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the trend in Dublin Gaelscoileanna of pupils being moved from one school to the other in fifth and even sixth class in an effort to improve their chances of getting access to Irish language education at second level; his views on whether this provides evidence of the need for a gaelcholáiste in south Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40416/09]

George Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the lack of planning in his Department increased primary level provision of education through Irish in an area of Dublin south by 200% while providing no increase of Irish language education at second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40417/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 to 476, inclusive, and 488 together.

The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth in order to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the school year 2014/2015. 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. When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas selected the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on preparing reports on a priority basis for the remainder of the country. Overall post-primary accommodation requirements in the South Dublin area, including the case for the provision of a new Irish language post-primary school, will be considered in this regard.

George Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether the reluctance to open a gaelcholáiste in the area of greatest growth in the number of primary school pupils being educated through Irish contradicts his commitment to encourage the spread of the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40418/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth in order to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the school year 2014/2015. When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas selected the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on preparing reports on a priority basis for the remainder of the country. Overall post-primary accommodation requirements in the area referred to by the Deputy, including the case for the provision of a new Irish language post-primary school, will be considered in this regard.