Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
303. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a shortage of primary school places in a locality (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if he has met with local stakeholders in an effort to address this shortage; the action he plans to take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1339/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011 I announced that 20 new primary and 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2016 across a number of locations to cater for our increased pupil numbers. While the area referred to by the Deputy was not one of the areas identified as requiring a new school in that period, it should be noted that in 2008 two new schools opened there and both of these schools will receive additional accommodation under my Departments Rapid Delivery Programme for 2013. In addition, a third school in the area that is the result of the amalgamation of a boys school and a girls school is to receive additional capacity and is on the 2015/2016 school building programme to proceed to tender and construction.
Officials of my Department met with a delegation of principals from the area last month regarding accommodation needs for September 2013 and discussions with the relevant patron bodies are ongoing.
My Department will continue to monitor enrolments in the area referred to by the Deputy to ensure that there is sufficient school accommodation to meet any projected future demands.
