Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2018
206. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated number of children who will be in sixth class over the next number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52031/18]
View answerInformation on projected enrolments in 6th class (mainstream classes only) for the years 2018 - 2023 is available in the table below. It can be seen that 6th class enrolments are due to rise by more than 8,000 pupils between the latest actual figures available - 63,037 in 2017/2018 - and the peak in 2020/2021 (71,466) before beginning to reduce as the demographic peak moves through the education system.
|
Academic Year |
6th Class Pupils |
|
2017/2018 (actual) |
63,037 |
|
2018/2019 |
67,055 |
|
2019/2020 |
70,070 |
|
2020/2021 |
71,466 |
|
2021/2022 |
71,032 |
|
2022/2023 |
71,042 |
|
2023/2024 |
68,311 |
Ireland's particular demographic make-up, with peaks in births in 1980 (74,064) and again 30 years later in 2009 (75,554), and a low point in 1994 with just 48,255 births, has led to large fluctuations in demand across all sectors of education from primary to post-primary to third level and these fluctuations are reflected in projected enrolments.
More detailed information on projections can be found in the full projections report available on the Department's website:
www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/projections-of-full-time-enrolment-primary-and-second-level-2018-2036.pdf.
