Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
368. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the lack of secondary school places available to cater to the youth population living in the Lucan area; and the steps her Department plans to take to ensure that capacity is increased as soon as possible. [59119/21]
View answerMy Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas including the Lucan school planning area.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including those of schools in the Lucan area, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. It is expected that the enrolment pressures in this, and other areas will reduce in the short-term as such planned additional capacity comes on stream and as demographic demand moves past its peak.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in Lucan, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an additional enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme (the Additional Accommodation Scheme) can be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly.
A number of projects to deliver additional post primary school capacity in the Lucan area are planned or underway including the following:
St Joseph's College - Roll number 60263V - Project at stage 3 to cater for 1000 pupils – Interim accommodation approved in October 2021 for 6 additional Classrooms
Griffeen Community College - Roll Number 76454S - New school to cater for 1000 pupils and 4 Class SEN Base - Project at Architectural design stage. Modular interim accommodation approved for 9 Classrooms, 1 construction Room,1 SET Room, 1GP/Staff Room +Toilets.
Lucan Community College - Roll Number 70080T - extension to cater for 1000 pupils and 2 class SEN base - Project at Architectural design stage.
St Kevin's Community College - Roll Number 70042L - Patron has agreed to increase capacity to 1000 pupils and 4 class SEN base. Interim accommodation approved in May 2021 to cater for expansion.
Coláiste Cois Life - Roll Number 76065H - Modular accommodation approved in 2017 for 7 general classrooms, science room & technology room.
