Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
346. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the data sets used in the geographical information system when identifying areas under increased demographic pressure; the metric used in this assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19950/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.
The GIS uses data from a range of sources including;
- the Central Statistics Office,
- Ordnance Survey Ireland,
- Child Benefit Data from the Department of Social Protection, and
- Enrolment data/available capacity of existing schools from 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. These exercises take account of updated enrolment and child benefit data and also the impact of existing and planned capacity increases to schools in these areas
