Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18431/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department carries out demographic analyses at primary and post-primary level using the Department's Geographical Information System to identify areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my own Department's databases.

Arising from the outcome of these demographic analyses, it was confirmed that four new primary schools and nine new post-primary schools would open in 2017 and 2018, including a new post-primary school for the area referred to by the Deputy which will open in September 2017.

In April this year, my Department issued an invitation to all school patron bodies and prospective patron bodies to apply for the patronage of the nine new post-primary schools, including the school to serve the area referred to by the Deputy. As part of the application process, prospective patrons must submit completed parental preferences, including whether parents wish their child(ren) to be educated through the medium of Irish or of English. The closing date for receipt of applications to my Department was Wednesday 8th June.

My Department is currently assessing the applications received from the prospective patrons and an assessment report will be prepared for the consideration of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). The Group will then submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. I will announce the patronage of the schools in due course and the patronage assessment report will be published on my Department's website.