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Education Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Ceisteanna (601)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

601. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she has conducted a recent evaluation of the need for a new second-level school in a catchment area (details supplied); the projected demand for places; the projected level of available places; the availability of schools of diverse patronage; the pattern of pupils entering or leaving the catchment for second-level education; and if she will consider placing a new second-level school for this catchment area on the school building programme. [51201/21]

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Freagraí scríofa

There are seven post primary schools in the school planning area in question, six of these schools have a Catholic ethos and one has a Church of Ireland ethos.

Two of the schools have ongoing projects.

 RN60290B St Paul’s College  had an Additional Accommodation Application approved in July 2020 for 2 Construction Rooms,1 Home Economics Room, 1 Music Room, 2 Art Rooms, I Technology Prep Room, 3 Store Rooms, 2 classroom SEN Base. The school has an Long-Term Projected Enrolment (LTPE) of 700, The 2020 enrolment was 630 pupils.    

RN81002K Mountemple Comprehensive -  This school has a Large Scale Major Project that on completion will cater for an LTPE of 1,000 pupils, the project is currently at Stage 2B. The 2020 enrolment was 892 pupils.

There is a significant degree of movement into and out of this school planning area of students from 6th class entering 1st year of secondary school. Of the first year pupils entering post-primary schools in the school planning area in 2020, over 32% of the pupils came from primary schools located outside the school planning area, while some 40% of 6th class students of primary schools within the school planning area started 1st year in schools outside the school planning area. Such patterns of transfer are not uncommon in urban areas. 

As outlined to the Deputy previously, new schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.

My Department's most recent projections do not indicate significant increases in school place requirements at post-primary level in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning area.  Nevertheless, my Department will continue to work to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the area to meet school place demand and will keep the requirements in Killester_Raheny_Clontarf, as with all other school planning areas, under review.

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