Seán Sherlock
Ceist:197. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to open an Educate Together post-primary school in east County Cork. [27661/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 26 June 2018
Ceisteanna (197)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 600 pupil post-primary school for the Ballincollig school planning area to be established in 2021. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. Based on the current analysis, this need can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools. It is important to note that approximately 40% of extra school places are delivered by extending existing schools, rather than by building new schools.
While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school for East County Cork, I have highlighted that the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.