School planning moves welcomed

MOVES to make the planning of new schools more transparent have been welcomed by the fastest-growing sector of primary education.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey announced yesterday that a model will be set up in five areas to publish local plans, including the number of schools and where they should be located.

This is an issue of growing concern in rapidly expanding areas, particularly parts of greater Dublin, where very few schools are being built within sprawling residential areas.