Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
712. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if a new school will be built in the Curragh, Newbridge area of County Kildare in addition to the recently announced school on the Magee Barracks site in Kildare town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63205/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established, by my Department, on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.
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.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the annual demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
The requirement for additional school places in the Curragh and Newbridge school planning areas is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the Local Authority in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.
