Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
168. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education her plans for new primary and secondary schools in the areas of Coolock, Raheny and Artane, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4979/21]
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, utilising data from a range of sources including information on planned and current residential development, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.
Coolock and Artane are situated in the Beaumont_CoolockD5 school planning area. Raheny is situated in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf 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 local authority to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. My Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within the particular area and its ability to meet increased demand.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As the Deputy may be aware, since April 2018 the Government has announced 47 new schools to be established over a four year period (2019 - 2022) including one new primary school to serve the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning area. This school was established in 2019 under the patronage of Educate Together following a patronage process.
The school opened in suitable interim accommodation in Suttonians Rugby Club, Dublin 13 pending delivery of its permanent building.
The project to deliver the permanent accommodation for Killester/Raheny/Clontarf ETNS is on myDepartment's capital programme. A permanent site option has been identified and it is in the school planning area. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
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 the Beaumont_CoolockD5 and Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning areas, is at an advanced stage.
