Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm receipt of correspondence from a local authority (details supplied); his views on the local authority's request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41092/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Correspondence has been received in the Forward Planning Section of my Department from the Local Authority referred to by the Deputy and a response will issue to this correspondence in the coming days.

Utilising GIS, Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the Department of Social & Family Affairs in addition to recent schools' enrolment data.

The study indicates that the requirement for additional primary provision in years 2010, 2011 and 2012 is likely to be greatest in more than 40 locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas. Forward Planning Section is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis and reports for each of these locations in order to identify the school accommodation requirements for each area up to and including the school year 2014/2015. School accommodation requirements in the areas referred to by the Deputy will be considered as part of this detailed study of the areas identified. It is expected that the reports on these areas will be completed in the coming weeks.

As a matter of course there is ongoing 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. This level of close cooperation is underpinned by the Code of Practice. Officials from the Forward Planning Section of my Department recently met with the local authority referred to, with a view to exploring the possibility of sharing the data on Geographical Information Systems as a further aid to the school planning process. This will be pursued further by my Department and the local authority.