Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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470. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new schools required and-or extensions to existing schools contemplated over the next five years (details supplied); the number and location of schools currently under construction, at planning stage or otherwise anticipated; the degree to which all the necessary preparations are in hand to meet the emerging requirements with particular reference to the local LAPS; if each or all of the anticipated sites have been cleared for development; his views on whether proposals in hand to date are sufficient to meet the requirements in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27011/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s six-year Capital Programme priorities building projects to meet demographic demand and this includes schools in County Kildare. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed.

As the Deputy is aware, there are currently 29 major capital projects being progressed in County Kildare, details of which were provided to the Deputy previously. This is in addition to over 50 smaller scale projects that have been approved devolved funding under my Department’s additional accommodation scheme. Details of these projects may be viewed on my Department’s website and this is updated regularly.

My Department is included among the prescribed bodies to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development and local area plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment and observations. This enables local authorities to reserve future school sites in areas designated for proposed housing development.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department consistently monitors demographics to identify where additional schools places will be required. My Department is currently in the process of completing demographic exercises nationwide which includes the areas referred to by the Deputy. This process is detailed and rigorous and will take some time to complete. It is anticipated that decisions based on these exercises will be announced later in 2017.