Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her plans for a new community college in Ashbourne, County Meath; if she will acknowledge the need for a new secondary school in Ashbourne; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41585/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The most recent projections used by my Department would see enrolments at post-primary rise from current levels of c312,200 pupils to between 331,500 and 336,600 pupils by the year 2017. It is within this context that the Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of analysing all areas in the country in order to determine the level of additional provision which will be required at post-primary level up to 2017. Overall school accommodation requirements in the Ashbourne area will be fully considered in this regard.

In addition to this I have recently announced the setting up of a new framework in relation to the establishment of new second-level schools and their patronage, whereby an expert Group to be known as the Second-Level Patronage Advisory Group will consider applications for new schools and advise me in relation to those applications, having undertaken survey work of parental views and using the criteria to be set down. The progression of all large scale building projects arising from Forward Planning Section's analysis will be considered in the context of my Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme.