Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015
607. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a new primary school for the Doughiska and Roscam area of Galway, which has seen unprecedented population growth in recent years. [36485/15]
View answerMy Department takes the decision to establish a new school in order to meet demographic demand. In this regard, the Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for additional school places will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Department of Social Protection in addition to information from the Department's own databases. It also uses data from the local authorities. With all of this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. My Department is currently reviewing the latest nationwide demographic data to assess where additional provision may be required at primary level post- 2016. This exercise encompasses all areas of the country, including the Galway city and environs area.
Correspondence has been received on the possible requirements at primary level in the Doughiska/Roscam area, as referenced by the Deputy.
Once the requirement for a new school in a particular area is identified, the Department publicises this requirement and initiates an open patronage determination process to decide who will operate the new school. Details of this process are published on my Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Establishing-a-New-School.
