The school to which the Deputy refers is being established in response to the outcome of the parental survey under the patronage divesting process carried out in the Malahide/Portmanock area and the school is intended to serve this area.
The survey showed sufficient parental demand to establish and sustain a 12 classroom-school. The school will also be intended to cater for some additional demand in the area arising from local demographics.
The start-up capacity for the school will be dependent on the enrolment demand this year. My Department is liaising with the Patron, Educate Together, in relation to enrolment numbers and start-up requirements and is satisfied that sufficient accommodation will be available within Holywell ETNS to meet the school's requirements for this September.
Discussions are continuing to take place with the main Catholic patrons in this and in a number of other areas to identify and secure permanent accommodation for new schools under this process where possible and to enable further primary school start-ups in 2015 and beyond. In the case of the Malahide/Portmarnock school, the additional demographic demand for school places in the area needs to be considered in identifying permanent accommodation options for this school.