Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed secondary school in Kinnegad in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39635/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department is in the process of concluding a report on the outcome of a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation will be needed from 2017 onwards. This exercise encompassed all areas of the country, including Kinnegad. I will announce the details of the new post-primary schools to be provided nationwide arising from this exercise in due course.

Where new schools are to be established, my Department runs an open patronage determination process to decide who will operate the schools. It is open to all patrons and prospective patrons to apply under this process.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the progress on a new primary school project (details supplied) in County Longford; the reason for the delay in sanctioning the new building; why this project was not included in the five year construction programme, as the school was originally advised of this in 2006 by the then Minister for Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39642/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the major building project for the school in question is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. All statutory approvals including planning permission, fire and disability access certificates have been secured. The Design Team have also confirmed that tender documents are complete.

Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.

However, school building projects, including the project in question, which have not been included in the current five year programme, will continue to be progressed to the final stages of architectural planning and are available to be considered in the context of the new 6 Year Construction Programme that I intend to announce in the coming weeks.