Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
363. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education if she will consider increasing a school (details supplied) to three streams to accommodate a rise in the number of young children in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55385/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a new school building project for the school in question has been recently completed.
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.
The school referred to above by the Deputy is within the Scribblestown_FinglasWest School Planning Area. The Department is not aware of pressure at primary level in the Scribblestown_FinglasWest School Planning Area and a growth in primary enrolments is not currently anticipated. However, continued close engagement with schools and patrons will allow the Department to identify any unanticipated local pressures, and particular further capacity requirements for the forthcoming years that may require further solutions to be put in place to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area.
The Department currently have no plans to increase provision at Pelletstown Educate Together National School to three streams but school place demand in the area will continue to be kept under review.
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 the Scribblestown_FinglasWest School Planning Area for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.
