Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
70. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education her plans to address the need for a further primary school in the high growth area of Castletroy, County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25096/21]
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, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. Castletroy is in the Limerick City school planning area.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand and my Department, therefore, engages with each of the local authorities to obtain up-to-date information on residential development activity. My Department has been notified by Limerick City and County Council of a significant volume of recent and planned residential development in Castletroy and across the Limerick City school planning area.
However, in the Limerick City school planning area, given a downward trend in primary school place requirements from the existing population it is expected that any school place demand that may emerge from new housing developments can be accommodated within the existing overall provision.
School place requirements nationally, including in Limerick City and in Castletroy, will continue to be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard to the impact of the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
Furthermore, my Department will continue to engage with Limerick City and County Council in respect of its statutory planning processes in order to anticipate and plan for future school accommodation needs across the city area.
A number of capital projects are underway in the area of Castletroy including a new 32 classroom primary school building for Monaleen National School and a new 1000 pupil post primary school for Limerick Educate Together Secondary School.
My Department also engages 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.
