Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if sites have been identified and secured and permission granted for proposed new primary schools in areas (details supplied) in tabular form. [17186/18]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if sites have been identified and secured and permission granted for proposed new post primary schools in areas (details supplied). [17193/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.

As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years.  This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country.

Following on from the announcement, the locations for all of the schools will be determined as part of the site acquisition process.

In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximize the use of sites already in my ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.

In addition as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department will be examining all potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant areas.

Taking into account all of the above, decisions will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to appropriate sites for all the schools announced and will be confirmed at a later date.