Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
529. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if the need for a primary and or post-primary school in Meakstown (details supplied) will be addressed; if a site will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21783/20]
View answerIn 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. For school planning purposes Meakstown is located in the Finglas East_Ballymun_Dublin 11 school planning area.s
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 information 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 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 45 new schools over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022. In addition to the new schools announced, there may be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future which can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools.
While a new school has not been announced for the Finglas East_Ballymun_Dublin 11 school planning area, the requirement for new schools is kept under on-going review and in particular has regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
My Department is currently working on an updated demographic exercise to assess needs for the coming years. This work is at an advanced stage.
