Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
562. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide further post-primary schools in addition to increased provision within existing schools for the Dublin 9 and 11 areas given the increase in population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16371/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, 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, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 60% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level have stable or decreasing projected enrolments for the period to 2024, whereas some 90% of the school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2027.
The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may 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.
Following on from a previous such demographic exercise a new post primary was announced for the Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin1 school planning area, to be established in 2022.
In addition, the following major projects are in place for post-primary schools in Dublin 9/11
Scoil Chaitriona Glasnevin – extension to provide for 500 places – this is at project brief stage.
Rosmini Community School – Extension/Refurbishment to cater for 350 places – this project is at stage 2b.
There is also a number of Additional School Accommodation (ASA) projects as follows:
St. Aidan’s CBS Dublin 9 – additional accommodation approved in August 2020 to expand the school to cater for 850 pupils.
Clonturk College Dublin 9 – Application on hand in the Department currently under consideration.
Dominican College Griffith Avenue Dublin 9 – additional accommodation approved in March 2021 for extension to cater for 800 pupils.
Similar to the process adopt in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
