Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019
233. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children up to12 years of age in catchment areas (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the number of available primary school places in the area; the projected school places in each of the years 2020 to 2024, inclusive; if additional provision for school places will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6346/19]
View answerThe information is not available in the format requested by the Deputy. Detailed information relating to enrolment levels in all primary and post-primary schools nationwide is available on the Department's website at the following link: https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Data-on-Individual-Schools
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes as there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
There are currently two primary schools in the Kilcoole school planning area with a combined 2017/18 enrolment of 932 and one post-primary school with a 2017/18 enrolment of 689. There are currently eight primary schools in the Greystones school planning area with a combined 2017/18 enrolment of 3,195 and two post-primary schools with a combined 2017/18 enrolment of 1,110.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including the following new primary and post-primary schools to be established in the areas referred to by the Deputy as follows:
- a new 8-classroom primary school to serve the Kilcoole/Newtownmountkennedy school planning area to be established in 2019; and
- a new 800-pupil post-primary school to be established in 2021 to serve the Kilcoole & Greystones school planning areas as a regional solution.
