Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
324. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education for an update regarding the current status of a possible post-primary school to serve students on Inisbofin, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10675/24]
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.
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; and provision of a new school or schools.
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 lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (Aonad) in an English-medium school.
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.
Inisbofin Island is located in the Clifden school planning area. There is 1 primary school on the island –Inisbofin National School (Roll number 13927H) which had 18 students enrolled for the 2022/2023 academic year.
Given the low population numbers on the island, it is not anticipated that there will be a requirement for the establishment of a new post-primary there within the foreseeable future.
In relation to the post-primary situation, pupils resident on off-shore islands that do not have a school providing suitable free second level education may qualify for assistance under the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme. The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged, because of their remoteness from schools, the opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged. It is important that post primary students have access to a range of subject choices, as well as other social and developmental opportunities.
The terms of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on my Department’s website (www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0016_2016.pdf).
The Department of Education was represented on the inter-departmental committee for the development of the National Islands Policy – Our Living Islands – which was published by the Department of Community and Rural Development in 2023.
In relation to the post-primary situation, pupils resident on off-shore islands that do not have a school providing suitable free second level education may qualify for assistance under the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme. The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged, because of their remoteness from schools, the opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged. It is important that post primary students have access to a range of subject choices, as well as other social and developmental opportunities.
The terms of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on my Department’s
website (www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0016_2016.pdf).
The Department of Education was represented on the inter-departmental committee for the development of the National Islands Policy – Our Living Islands – which was published by the Department of Community and Rural Development in 2023.
