Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2016
75. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria she has used to decide on the location of the proposed new secondary school in Firhouse Old Bawn in Dublin 24; the proposed catchment area for this new school; if it will be an Educate Together secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4494/16]
View answerFor planning purposes my Department divides the country into geographic areas each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre, consisting of one or more post-primary schools. These defined areas facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs. Since 2011 new schools are established where the current and future demographics of an area require it.
My 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.
On 17 November last, I announced that 4 primary schools and 9 post-primary schools will open in 2017 and 2018, as a result of the outcome of the latest demographic exercises. This includes a post-primary school to be established in 2018 to serve the Firhouse, Dublin 24 area.
The patronage determination process for new schools is a separate process, which is run after it is decided that, based on the demographic data, a new school is required. Parental preferences are central to this process and prospective patrons are required to provide evidence of demand for their particular type of school. It is open to all patrons and prospective patrons, including Educate Together, to apply for patronage of a new school under this process. It is envisaged that the patronage determination process for the new post-primary school to serve Firhouse will commence before the end of this year.
