Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
733. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans to construct a new primary or post-primary school to serve the Northwood area of Santry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38876/23]
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, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing local pressures and demand for primary and post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including school planning areas in Dublin 9.
Where 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 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.
Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department will be investing at least €5 billion over the period 2021 to 2025. The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector are as follows:
• demographic change,
• alignment with housing provision and national planning at school planning area level,
• construction costs, and
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
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 the school planning areas in question, 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.
My Department is currently planning the delivery of a major campus project on the current Clonturk Community College site in Whitehall. The project will deliver two new 1,000 pupil post-primary schools and 1 new primary school (8 classrooms) on the Clonturk site. One of the new post- primary schools will be for Ellenfield Community College to replace their existing school. The other new post-primary school is a replacement school building for Clonturk Community College. The expanded post-primary schools will provide circa 1,000 additional co-educational, multidenominational post-primary school places in North Dublin City.
The additional capacity being provided by all of these projects is intended to address projected future capacity requirement. The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across School Planning Areas including in Dublin 9.
