Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
65. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if, in light of the small area census data release, her forward planning section will re-examine the need for a new secondary school in Dublin 8. [45027/23]
View answerThe Deputy may already be aware that 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 CSO Census data, 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 current school planning areas take account not only of local groupings of schools, but also of natural boundaries, Census Small Areas and other local conditions.
While the Census provides a wide range of important information which helps to inform my Department with their analysis of school place demand, this only forms part on the analysis. My Department collects and analyses data on the demand in a school planning area on an annual basis using data sources such as existing enrolments and child benefit data. This data, in conjunction with migration and transfer patterns from primary school to post primary school, forms the basis of the annual demographic review analysis.
This demographic analysis produces school place demand projections which is then considered in the context of available capacity in any particular area. In large urban areas such as South Dublin City, demand for post primary school places in one particular school planning area can be, and is often, catered for by available capacity in a neighbouring school planning area.
