Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the median number of pupils per primary school classroom here; the median number of pupils per primary school classroom in Donegal; the median number of pupils per classroom at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42903/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Median class size is not used as a calculation in the Department. Individual class size for each school in the country is available on the Statistics area of the Department's website. (www.education.ie)

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 562: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on the enrolment processes at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; his further views on whether the consistent annual increases in applications for enrolment indicate the need for a larger school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42905/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools.

Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents' choice are respected.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a Board of Management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to either the relevant Vocational Educational Committee or to the Secretary General of my Department. In the case of the latter, only where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld can the Secretary General of my Department direct a school to enrol a pupil.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB advises parents to apply to more than one school in order to assist in securing a school placement. The Board can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.

The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a large scale extension project. The application has been assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 1 rating. This rating takes account of enrolment patterns in the school.

Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, are now available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme. However, in view of the level of demand on my Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 564: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 468 of 17 November 2009, the specific date or timeframe for the delivery of a DS broadband solution to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; if it is the fact that without knowledge of this date it is difficult for the school's teachers and board of management to forward plan; his views on whether this handicap on educational planning at the school is not in the best interests of the school's pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42947/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the school in question is currently being installed with a fixed line/DSL solution under the second phase of the School's Broadband Programme. The DSL solution has been installed and delivery of a Cisco router is required to complete the connection process. I understand that this router is scheduled to be delivered to the school later this week, and this should lead to the school being fully connected.