Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
376. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she is satisfied that adequate steps have been taken to ensure the provision of a new primary school in Newtown, Enfield, County Kildare; the degree to which such provision is capable of meeting the demand in the current and subsequent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53152/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, the Department of Education 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. Additionally, 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, the Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand. Additional provision is made as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.
Newtown NS is located in the Kilcock School Planning Area. The Department is aware of pressures at both primary and post primary level in the Kilcock School Planning Area. 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, including Enfield, 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.
In line with the Department's demographic projections of primary school place requirements there has been a continued growth in enrolments in Kilcock. My Department has invested significantly in schools in County Kildare over recent years. Under the National Development Plan, a total of almost €250m has been invested in schools in County Kildare over the last five years. This investment has focused on provision of additional capacity to cater for its increasing population and there are further significant projects in our pipeline including for Kilcock.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department approved two projects for Newtown NS, Kildare. The first project for 2 x 15m² SET rooms (1 prefab replacement) and 4 x 80m² mainstream classrooms has been completed. The second approval for a 2 Class SEN Base is in the planning stages.
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 in Kilcock for the 2024/25 school year and into the future. Families can be assured that any necessary solution will be delivered so that all of the children in the Kilcock School Planning Area will receive a place.
