Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 April 2017
268. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policies pursued for school building capacity to cater for the increased demand for school places that is emerging in view of the increase in the number of housing units being developed in the towns of Maynooth, Celbridge, Kilcock and Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16438/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.
My Department is included among the prescribed bodies to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development and local area plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment and observations. This enables local authorities to reserve future school sites in areas designated for proposed housing development.
My Department’s 6 Year Capital Programme prioritises building projects for areas where there is increased demography including County Kildare. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed.
There are currently 29 major capital projects that are being progressed in County Kildare. This is in addition to over 50 smaller scale projects that have been approved devolved funding under my Department’s additional accommodation scheme.
