Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1063. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if she will conduct an audit of primary and secondary education schools in County Louth given the demographic and socioeconomic changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41021/21]
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 the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, since April 2018 the Government has announced 47 new schools to be established over a four year period (2019 - 2022) including one new post primary school (1,000) to serve the Laytown and Drogheda school planning areas (Regional Solution). This school was established in 2019 under the patronage of Educate Together.
Agreement in principle has been reached to acquire a site for the permanent location of the school referred to. This agreement is subject to contract, conveyancing and satisfactory grant of full planning permission. The location of the permanent site (circa 11 acres in size) will incorporate the current temporary site at Mill Road, Drogheda at which the school is located.
The school building project will be delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. The project will proceed into early architectural planning which involves site surveys, school design stages and the preparation of statutory applications. A pre planning meeting will be arranged with the local authority in advance of preparing a Planning Application. Once statutory approvals have been secured, the project will proceed to tender and construction stages.
In addition, the following projects are included on my Department’s School Building Programme:
1. Scoil Ui Mhuiri Dunleer, this project has been recently completed and will increase capacity to accommodate 750 pupils.
2. Bush Post-Primary School, this project to increase capacity to accommodate 700/750 pupils is currently at tender stage.
Details of projects ongoing or recently completed are update regularly on the Department’s website.
Similar to the process adopted 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.
