Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
168. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if her Department has received an application from residents of Inisbofin Island, County Galway to set up a post-primary school; if so, when a decision will be made on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22996/20]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has received correspondence, including a report, from the group referred to by the Deputy and that a response will issue shortly.
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.
Given the low population numbers on the island, it is not anticipated that a new post-primary will be established within the foreseeable future.
The Department of Education and Skills will continue to be represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee for the Development of the Islands, which was established by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2019.
