Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 November 2019
128. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 6 February 2019, his plans to provide additional school accommodation for Meakstown, Dublin 11; if the high number of new residential units built in the area will be taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46790/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.
For school planning purposes Meakstown is located in the Finglas East-Ballymun Dublin 11 school planning area. Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area, including the area to which the Deputy refers.
As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next 4 years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.
While the announcement did not include a new school for the Finglas East-Ballymun-Dublin 11 school planning area, the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
It is open to an individual school to apply for accommodation under the additional accommodation scheme if the school does not have sufficient capacity to meet school places.
