Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2017
61. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will establish a second level educational campus in Enfield, County Meath, to cater for the accelerating population growth in this area of south County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1888/17]
View answerMy Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic analyses to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. The outcome of such demographic analyses was the announcement in November 2015 that four new primary schools and nine new post-primary schools will open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs. As part of that announcement it was noted that a range of areas nationwide, including Enfield (Kilcock school planning area), are experiencing increased demographic pressure and will be kept under review.
My Department is continuing to keep the Kilcock school planning area under review to take into account updated enrolment data and capacity developments in this and adjacent school planning areas.
