Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 October 2020
157. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the number of second level school places in the Malahide and Portmarnock catchment area for the years 2022 to 2024 by school in tabular form; if the increased demand from pupils from a school (details supplied) from 2022 onwards has been factored into her Department’s calculations for the demand in places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30382/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where a demand for additional school places will arise. Malahide_Nevinstown and Portmarnock are two such school planning areas.
Included in the data analysed is Child Benefit data and, for the purpose of post primary school place projections, current enrolments in primary schools in the relevant school planning area(s). Also considered is information provided by local authorities in respect of residential development activity in each area, in order to anticipate emerging school place requirements from any planned additional population.
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review and work on an updated exercise to assess needs for the coming years, including those which may arise in Malahide_Nevinstown and Portmarnock, is at an advanced stage. I can assure the Deputy that the enrolments in the school to which she refers are included in the analysis of projected post primary requirements.
