Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
619. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education her plans for new secondary schools to be built for the north Dublin city area; the number of new places that will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22185/21]
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, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 60% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level have stable or decreasing projected enrolments for the period to 2024, whereas some 90% of the school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2027.
The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision.
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 will be aware, since April 2018, the Government has announced plans for the establishment of 47 new schools over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022. This included two new post primary schools to be established to serve the Donaghmede_Howth_D13 school planning area. The first of these, Belmayne ETSS, opened in 2019. A new post primary was also announced for the Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin1 school planning area.
The most recent projections for a number of the school planning areas in the North Dublin city area indicate increased requirements at primary and post primary levels. My Department is currently working to examine the capacity of the schools in the area to meet this projected demand and to ensure that the timing of establishment of new schools aligns with need.
