Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 May 2017
105. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the recent census data now available with regard to assessing the requirement for an additional secondary school for the Newbridge area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21182/17]
View answerMy Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.
All school planning areas nationwide are being kept under ongoing review by my Department. This review takes account of updated data from CSO, enrolment and child benefit data and also the impact of existing and planned capacity increases to schools in these areas.
