Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2021
133. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will authorise the establishment of a Gaelcholáiste Iarthar Chorcaí to restore the choice of parents and pupils to continue second-level education in the Irish language, a facility that existed in west County Cork for some 14 to15 years from 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35317/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, this 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.
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.
New schools are established in response to demographic demand as identified through such analysis and a patronage process is then conducted, which takes into account parental preferences and an analysis of existing school provision in the area, which includes the potential flow of pupils from Irish-medium primary schools in the area.
The other mechanism to establish an Irish-medium post-primary school is for a case to be made by the relevant school patron for an existing Aonad to transition to a standalone Gaelcholáiste.
Where an Aonad does not currently exist, the patrons of post-primary schools in the area, such as those in West Cork, can engage collectively in relation to the establishment of an Aonad in an existing school in order to provide an option for post-primary Irish-medium education in the area.
