Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a new primary school will be provided in County Westmeath (details supplied); if he will provide the up to date report on this proposal; the stages that have yet to be completed; the indicative time frame for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22330/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has an application with my Department for large scale capital funding. The current status of all schools on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers.

Given the need to meet demographic growth, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years. In this context, it is not possible to indicate at this point when a building project for the school in question will be progressed.