Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
230. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education her plans for a new secondary school for the Marino and Drumcondra area of Dublin to cater for the growing population of primary students who are currently in Educate Together or other non-denominational schools and would like to continue with secular education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51961/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe planned establishment of a new post-primary school in 2022 to serve the Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin 1 school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise. Further exercises have since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of a number of planned new schools, including the school to serve this school planning area, taking into account a number of factors, including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the school planning areas, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the areas.
My Department is satisfied that demand in the Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin 1 school planning area can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in this area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new school is deferred. The pace of delivery of additional residential development in this school planning area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements.
When a decision is taken to establish the school, a patronage process will be conducted to determine the patronage of the school. Parental preferences in relation to patronage and language of instruction (Irish or English) from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity of provision in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of such processes.
A range of post-primary schools currently operate in the area including a Community School and schools under the remit of City of Dublin ETB which are multi-denominational in nature.
