Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the new primary schools in County Kerry that will be included in the new school building programme over the next six years. [18687/11]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the new second level schools in County Kerry that will be included in the new schools building programme over the next six years. [18688/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.

Based on my Department's most recent statistics, it is expected that enrolments will increase nationally from a current enrolment at primary level of circa 509,652 pupils to circa 552,800 pupils by 2017 and at post-primary level from a current enrolment of circa 317,432 pupils to circa 342,300 pupils by 2017. My Department is currently examining all areas of the country to determine where additional provision will be required at both primary and post-primary level up to 2017.

It is within this context that I recently announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established within the next six years, comprising of twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools. Of the 40 new schools, 17 will be in the Dublin area with a further twelve in the commuter belt of Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Louth. Six new schools will be established in Cork, three in Galway and one each in Wexford and Cavan.

In addition, it will be necessary to extend the capacity of many existing schools to meet the demand for increased pupil places. Should the demand for increased pupil places emerge in County Kerry, it may be necessary to increase the capacity of schools in the area.

The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including those in County Kerry, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year.