Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a second level school for Claregalway, County Galway in view of the fact that there is no room for second level pupils in schools in surrounding areas. [25243/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The 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 Protection with reference to recent schools' enrolment data. The study indicates that the requirement for additional primary provision in the coming years is likely to be greatest in more than 40 identified locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas. The Galway City Catchment area (which includes Claregalway) is included in these initial identified 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. Given the increase in the birth rate in recent years the initial focus of this analysis is on primary school accommodation requirements and this will be followed by a more detailed analysis of post-primary accommodation requirements. A Report on primary needs has been completed for the Galway City Catchment area (which includes Claregalway). When the required reports have been completed for all the initial identified areas Forward Planning Section will continue to work on preparing reports on a priority basis for the remainder of the country. Overall school accommodation requirements in Claregalway, including the case for the provision of a new post-primary school, will be analysed as part of this process.

In addition to this detailed analysis of accommodation needs currently being carried out by Forward Planning Section, the Department is also currently examining a number of broad policy issues regarding the establishment of new post-primary schools. As part of this, consideration is being given to the setting up of a new framework in relation to the establishment of new second level schools and their patronage.