Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
476. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education when her Department will seek to establish a gaelcholáiste in Dublin 8, given the number of feeder primary schools which have no geographically near Irish medium secondary school to attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12522/24]
View answerI refer to the representation from the Deputy concerning the possible establishment of a gaelcholáiste in Dublin 8.
Regarding plans for increasing Irish-medium school places in the South Dublin area, which encompasses the Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 areas, it should be noted that the year of establishment, patronage model and language of instruction have yet to be determined for the new post-primary schools announced to serve the following school planning areas in the general South Dublin area: Dublin 2_Dublin 4 and Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR/Cherrywood.
My Department is currently undertaking a review of the mechanism for new post-primary school provision in the South Dublin area. In this regard, the Department is expediting the preparation of a plan for the delivery of a gaelcholáiste or gaelcholáistí, where such needs are demonstrated, in the South Dublin area. A key element of the planning for Irish-medium post-primary provision is the existing and planned enrolment for gaelscoileanna in the area, with a view to identifying oncoming needs for post-primary Irish-medium provision which may not be catered for by the existing gaelcholáistí in the area.
While it is expected that the existing gaelcholáistí in the general South Dublin area between them have sufficient school places to accommodate demand in the short term, given the number of new gaelscoileanna which have opened in recent years or are planned to open in this area, my Department is keeping the position under active review as these schools grow and the number of sixth class pupils in gaelscoileanna increases.
