Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in the context of his Department's engagements with Kildare County Council on the matter of a site for a proposed school (details supplied), he has considered the local agreement which exists for the rationalisation of primary provision and for the development of an education campus; if he will have regard to the best long term interests of education in the area and if, therefore, any site acquired will be sufficient in size to adequately meet the developing needs of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14411/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy has been advised, my Department has no record of receiving proposals in relation to the development of a new education campus in the area to which he refers. It is open to the schools in question to furnish details of their proposals to the Department for consideration initially. However, my Department has no plans at this point to develop an education campus in the area. As the Deputy is aware, total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 between now and 2018 (over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary) and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at post-primary level.

The priority now is to focus on major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet the demographic demands. The primary aim will be to ensure that every child will have access to a school place. The Deputy will also be aware that earlier this week I announced details of 219 new major school building projects which will begin over the next five years as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme. These new projects are in addition to 56 major school building projects that I already announced to go on site in 2012. A project for the post primary school referred to by the Deputy was included in this announcement.