Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 January 2024
119. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the campaign by parents in Newcastle, County Dublin for the establishment of a school in their village; when the New Schools Establishment Group will next revisit the provision of an additional secondary school in the Newcastle-Rathcoole school planning area, specifically in Newcastle village; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3180/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
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.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my Department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from Local Authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
The 2023 demographic exercise indicates that post primary enrolments in the Newcastle_Rathcoole SPA are projected to peak in 2033 and decline thereafter. Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
The Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area.
A critical next step for the 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.
The Department is working to clarify the actual requirement for additional school places and to identify particular further capacity requirements for 2024 and forthcoming years. The Department will engage with schools and patrons to 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.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational.
A new Post Primary school to serve Dublin Citywest / Saggart (Tallght Newcastle Rathcoole) was announced in April 2018. This post primary school is part of a campus project assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. This campus project will deliver a 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site in Citywest.
This project is currently at tender stage. The Invitation to tender issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects issued to the Department's Framework of Design & Build Contractors. The tender process currently takes approximately 8-12 months. Tender returns have been received and are currently being evaluated. Once a contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction would commence shortly thereafter.
The large scale capital project for Holy Family Community School Rathcoole to provide accommodation for a 1,000 Pupil School, is at an advanced stage of the tender process. In July clarifications were received from the design team in relation to the Reserved Specialist Tender Report, however further information was subsequently requested. Planning and Building unit officials are currently engaging with the Design Team in relation to the remaining issues. When this review is complete and subject to no further issues arising, the Department will be in further contact with the school authority.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plan and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
