Schools Establishment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2015

Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Questions (496)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

496. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the schools listed in the summary of new schools to open in 2017 and 2018 list, Appendix 1, are due to be operational in 2017 with the number of classes and students indicated on the list; if not, if she will provide a new list outlining when each new school on the list is expected to be operational; and the type of temporary accommodation she expects these schools to be housed in. [42337/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The schools included in the list to which the Deputy refers are new schools which will open in 2017 and 2018 to serve specific areas of demographic need. As indicated in the list nine of these schools will open in 2017 and four will open in 2018. In its first year of establishment, every new school starts operation with a class at intake level and then grows incrementally over a number of years to the long-term projected enrolment. In the case of the primary schools on the list, the long-term projections are stated in terms of the number of mainstream classes. In the case of the post-primary schools on the list, the long-term projections are stated in terms of student numbers.

Work is underway in the Department to ensure that suitable accommodation is available for each of these schools.