Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
374. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which emergency measures are being taken to ensure the availability of the adequate number of school places at primary and second level, with particular reference to the need to meet any such challenges in September 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53150/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. In addition, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements.
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision. Additional provision is made as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.
The Department is aware of pressures for school places at primary and post primary level in a number of school planning areas. A critical next step is to acquire clarity on the actual number of additional places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established. The Department is already having discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities regarding potential solutions but the understanding of the actual school place needs will give clarity as to the specific actions that are required.
This close engagement with schools and patrons will also allow the Department to identify particular further capacity requirements for the forthcoming years and put any required solutions in place - beyond those that are already in train - to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area.
Over the course of 2023, in excess of 2,000 extra classrooms have been funded for schools around the country. There have been unavoidable delays in the delivery of some of this additional accommodation. The Department is working closely with the schools concerned to keep them appraised of the project timelines and to assist in ensuring that interim arrangements are put in place to facilitate the accommodation of all existing and new classes at the school.
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.
I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students at primary and post primary level across all school planning areas for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.
