Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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494. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the construction of a secondary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43708/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places will arise. The outcome of the latest demographic exercises, based on the GIS, is that on 17th November last, I announced the establishment of 4 primary schools and 9 post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018.

A new post-primary school to serve the area to which the Deputy refers was not included as part of this announcement and it is not envisaged that a new post-primary school will be constructed to serve this area.

The post-primary schools opening in the Dublin area in 2017 and 2018 will serve the following areas: Carpenterstown and Castleknock; Lucan; Malahide and Portmarnock; Swords and Dublin South City Centre. Of the 8 new post-primary schools which will open in 2016, 3 will serve the Dublin area, namely Tallaght, Dublin 24; Ballinteer and Stepaside; and Balbriggan.

The patronage determination process for new schools is a separate process, which is run after it is decided that, based on the demographic data, a new school is required. Parental preferences are central to this process and prospective patrons are required to provide evidence of demand for their particular type of school. It is open to all patrons and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of a new school under this process.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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495. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the funding and building of St. Thomas's national school in Lucan, County Dublin, including the amount of funding allocated from the current capital programme, the stage that planning is at and when the works will be completed. [43753/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning – Stage 2(b). This stage includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. Details on the estimated cost of the project cannot be provided ahead of the tender stage owing to commercial sensitivities.

As the Deputy is aware on Tuesday 17th November 2015 I announced details of the major school building projects where construction is expected to commence over the next 6 years. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which she refers is included in this plan. Information in respect of all projects on this 6 year plan is available on my Department's website www.education.ie