Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
972. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond positively to the request for a third junior infants class for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16, due to the serious under-provision of places for children of the parish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37921/15]
View answerMy Department has no record of receiving a request from the Patron of the school in question to expand to a third junior infant stream.
In the context of meeting demographic demand in the area, my Department provided a new replacement 16 classroom school in 2012, at a cost of approximately €3.5 million. Since 2014, further additional classroom accommodation has also been provided in a number of other schools in the area to meet demographic demand.
The Deputy will be aware that on 5th February last, I announced that seven new primary schools are to be established nationally in the next two years. Four are scheduled to open in 2015 and three will open in 2016. One of the schools to be established in 2016 will cater for demographic demand in the area referred to by the Deputy.
The Department continues to review the most up to date demographic information to ensure that any emerging school accommodation shortfalls are identified and met in a timely manner.
