Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the process by which a community can progress the development of a secondary school in their area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47700/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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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 both primary and post primary level up to 2017. I have recently announced the setting up of a new framework in relation to the establishment of new second-level schools and their patronage. This will involve an expert Group to be known as the Second-Level Patronage Advisory Group that 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. I plan to establish the group very shortly and I will seek their input prior to the finalisation of the detailed criteria and procedures. 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.