James Lawless
Ceist:504. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to build a new Gaelscoil in Naas, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52395/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 2 November 2021
Ceisteanna (504)
Freagraí scríofa
The planned establishment of a new primary school in 2021 to serve the Naas 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 at present in the Naas School Planning Area can be accommodated by the existing and growing schools in this area (including an established Gaelscoil - Gaelscoil Nás na Ríogh). As a result, the establishment of the planned new school was 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.
Where it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required, a patron identification process takes place. Parental preferences from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned in relation to their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for the new school, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of the process.