Gary Gannon
Question:109. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to develop a secondary school for Newcastle in Dublin 22; and if so, the status of such a plan (details supplied). [3109/24]
View answerWednesday, 24 January 2024
Questions (109)
Written answers
As the Deputy may be aware, while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by the following factors:
Duplication of applications
• School of choice
• Single sex schools
• External draw
Notwithstanding the above, in some areas demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
In response to such previously identified demographic pressures, my Department has delivered a Modular Accommodation project in 2022 of an additional 3 main classrooms for Holy Family Community School which allowed for a further 90 mainstream school places. Additionally, my Department is providing significant additional post primary capacity, including new 1,000 pupil school buildings for both Holy Family Community School and Coláiste Pobail Fola. These projects are currently at Stage 3, Tender Stage.
My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in Newcastle. A critical next step for my Department is to establish the actual number of additional first year 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 Newcastle_Rathcoole, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions.
This data has been received by my officials and is currently being analysed with a view to establishing the actual requirement for places. Preliminary assessments indicate that duplications of applications, and applications from outside the local area, are very much contributing to enrolment pressures in the town.
My Department is working to clarify the actual requirement for additional school places and to identify particular further capacity requirements for 2024 and forthcoming years. 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 Newcastle 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 across the School Planning Area will receive a first year place.