School Accommodation

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Questions (261)

Seamus Kirk

Question:

261. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of post primary schools in Dundalk, County Louth, the maximum student accommodation; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of pupils in each school; the gender numbers of each school; the projected accommodation need for the years 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43316/12]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

For the Deputy's convenience, I am setting out a table showing enrolment details at the schools to which he refers together with details of current or proposed building projects at a number of these schools.

At the current pupil intake levels, the current projected increase in post-primary numbers in Dundalk will be in the region of 800 pupils up to 2023.

My priority is to ensure that there is sufficient school accommodation to meet projected pupil enrolment increases into the future. The 5 Year Plan that I announced in March last as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. These have been prioritised on the basis of meeting significant demographic needs. The Plan includes the new post primary school for Dundalk, County Louth that will provide 1,000 additional post primary places, and is scheduled to commence operation in September 2014.

Breakdown of Enrolments at Post-Primary Schools in Dundalk County Louth for 2012/13

School	Type	No. of Boys	No. of Girls	PLC	Total
Coláiste Rís	Co-ed	390	155	-	545
St. Mary’s College	Co-ed	451	203	-	654
De La Salle College	All-Boys	720	-	-	720
Dundalk Grammar	Co-Ed	320	196	-	516
St. Vincent's	All-Girls	-	890	-	890
St. Louis Secondary School	All-Girls	-	590	-	590
O’Fiaich College	Co-Ed	204	143	545	892
Total		2,085	2,177	545	4,807

There is a number of building projects proposed or under construction at the above schools as outlined below: St. Mary’s College – Proposed new 900 pupil school – project is in the Department’s 5-year plan to go to construction in 2015/16; De La Salle College – recently approved a devolved grant to provide additional accommodation of 597 m² including 3 specialist rooms and 3 general classrooms; Dundalk Grammar School – extension is under construction to provide for 500 pupils; and new 1,000 pupil post-primary school planned for 2014.