Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the context of the Department's corridor study N4/M4 in 2004, which advised that a note be reserved for a second level school in this area (details supplied) in County Westmeath and in the further context in which this area had shown a 421% growth in the past 15 years and when all the primary schools within a five mile radius have maximum numbers which they can facilitate, if he will enter discussions with the local authority and the church authorities with a view to securing a suitable site which is now readily available in view of the fact that these bodies have been seeking to meet officials to progress matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23044/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Among the recommendations of the study referred to by the Deputy, which was published in May 2005, it was recommended that a site be reserved in the area to cater for a second level school. As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011, I announced that 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to meet significantly increasing demographics in those areas. This announcement did not include a proposal to establish a new post-primary school in the area referred to, as the demographics of the area did not support the need for a new second level school. The Forward Planning Section of my Department will continue to analyse demographic trends to determine the level of additional school provision which will be required into the future. Overall school requirements in the area referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered in this context. As the Deputy may be aware Westmeath County Council has a site reserved for educational purposes in this area should the need arise in the future for the requirement of a post-primary school.