Thursday, 10 Mar 2022

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (290)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

290. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13657/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the building project for the school to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB).

The Service Level Agreement (SLA) has been issued to GRETB. The next step is for the ETB to procure a Design Team for the project to design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions, and move the project onward to tender and construction in due course.

As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion. Please be assured that the ETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

Irish Language

Ceisteanna (291)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

291. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the specific supports that are provided to support the teaching of the Irish language in Gaelscoileanna; if she will commit to reinstating the supports cut as a result of the austerity measures in the past decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13658/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I can advise the Deputy that my Department has undertaken a range of measures to support the teaching of the Irish language in Gaelscoileanna. My Department is currently developing a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas to complement the work done under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017 - 2022. In order to promote the education of primary pupils through the medium of Irish, Gaelscoileanna located outside of Gaeltacht areas receive an additional €23.00 per pupil over and above the standard rate of capitation grant, which is €183 per pupil paid to all primary schools.

An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) was established to plan and coordinate the provision of textbooks and aids to teaching and learning through Irish. COGG’s functions, as set out in section 31 of the Education Act 1998, allow COGG to provide Irish-medium schools with a broad range of supports including the provision of teaching resources and text books, the provision of support services for teachers and schools and the funding of research all of which are aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of teaching of Irish. COGG also provides CPD for teachers in Irish-Medium schools to improve and develop their own Irish language skills and has recently developed An Tairseach, a portal dedicated to providing access to resources that support teaching and learning in the Irish medium sector www.cogg.ie/tairseach/.

In addition to supports provided by COGG, my Department provides funding to support a number of Irish language programmes including the Gaelbhratach programme and the digitisation of Séideán Sí text books. My Department will also be providing funding to Foras na Gaeilge for the production of an Irish-Irish dictionary which will directly benefit students in Irish-medium schools by assisting with learning through the medium of Irish without the need to reference English words.

In relation to Initial Teacher Education, my Department awarded contracts for two new Irish-medium teacher education programmes in 2018 to increase the supply of teachers with the competence to deliver high quality Irish-medium education in schools. Work is currently underway to develop a new Irish-medium blended-learning post-graduate programme for post-primary teachers. This course is expected to become available from September 2023. In addition, curricular reform has seen a new integrated Irish/English Primary Language Curriculum introduced in 2019 which supports all learners and separate curricula for Irish Medium (“Language 1 Irish”/L1) and English-medium (L2) are in place at junior cycle level. Work is underway to reform the curriculum specifications for Leaving Certificate (established) Irish .

In relation to supports which were cut as a result of the austerity measures in the past decade, my Department implemented the outcome of the review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (September 2012) of allowances and premium payments, under which some allowances were no longer payable to new public service entrants including “new entrant” teachers. Circular 8 of 2013 outlines the effect of this review on teachers. In common with a number of job-role based allowances, sanction for payment to new beneficiaries of the “Teaching though Irish” allowance was withdrawn from 1st February 2012 under the terms of the Circular. Furthermore, if a teacher was eligible for receipt of the allowance prior to 1st February 2012 and subsequently left that job role on a voluntary basis, their entitlement to the allowance ceased from the date of the move and they cannot re-gain entitlement. Amendments to teacher terms and conditions, including pay and allowances, may be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions.

School Transport

Ceisteanna (292)

Danny Healy-Rae

Ceist:

292. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter regarding the retirement age for school bus drivers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13662/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on 7,000 school routes. This includes vetting and background checks.

Bus Éireann has reviewed the matter referred to by the Deputy and has advised that from the age of 70, all drivers even of private cars must complete a medical report form signed by a registered medical practitioner. This is a Road Safety Authority requirement for any licence category applied for at age 70. It exists because of the known effects of aging on eyesight, on cognitive and physical performance, the increased risk of co-morbidities and the increased likelihood of drivers taking a number of medications. For public transport, and especially large capacity public transport carrying children, these risks are increased as the potential harm that could result is that much greater.

The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. There is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (293)

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

293. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if there are plans in place to build a Gaelscoil secondary school in Castlebar, County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13683/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I wish to advise the Deputy that in 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 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.

My Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas. Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils

- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

The Castlebar school planning area is served by 3 post primary schools and the following building projects have been completed or are in train to provide further capacity for these schools:

- St. Gerard's College - an Additional School Accommodation project to provide 4 general classrooms, Construction room and Home-Economics room has been approved. This project is currently at stage 2a of the architectural planning process.

- St Joseph's Secondary School - a building project has recently been completed to provide a total of 7 general classrooms. It is intended that 4 of these new classrooms will meet demographic growth requirements and 3 will replace existing temporary classrooms.

- Davitt College. It is intended that this school will expand to provide capacity for 1,000 pupils. The project brief is currently being prepared for this project. The school has been approved substantial additional modular accommodation for the 2022/23 school year to cater for immediate needs including SEN facilities pending provision of the permanent extension. The school currently has an enrolment of 772 pupils.

It is expected that the building projects completed and to be undertaken at these schools will cater for the future needs of the Castlebar school planning area without the need for an additional new school entity.

Oideachas Gaeltachta

Ceisteanna (294, 295, 296)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

294. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil sé i gceist aici stádas Scoil Bheag a bhronnadh ar na hiar-bhunscoileanna ar na hoileáin amach ón gcósta; mura bhfuil, an bhfuil sé i gceist aici a chinntiú go mbeidh stádas acu a chinnteodh na buntáistí céanna do na scoileanna seo ó thaobh alúntas múinteoirí agus maoine agus a bheadh acu dá mbeadh an stádas seo acu; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13692/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

295. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an mbeadh sí sásta stádas Scoil Bheag a bhronnadh ar na hiar-bhunscoileanna ar na hoileáin amach ón gcósta dá n-athródh siad a bpatrúnacht ó na Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna go pátrúnacht Scoil Dheonach; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13693/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

296. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cad iad na buntáistí a bhaineann le stádas Scoil Bheag a bheith ag iar-bhunscoil; cad iad na hacmhainní breise a chuirtear ar fáil dá bharr; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13694/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 294, 295 and 296 together.

(Please see below for English Version of Reply)

Aithníonn mo Roinn an ról fíor-thábhachtach atá ag scoileanna beaga agus ag scoileanna oileánda maidir le pobail agus cultúr na n-oileán a chothabháil, agus tá sí tiomanta go láidir mar sin do chothabháil na scoileanna ar na hoileáin. Ar an ábhar sin agus i bhfianaise na ndúshlán uathúil atá le sárú ag scoileanna oileánda, tá tacaíochtaí breise curtha ar fáil ag mo Roinn do scoileanna dá leithéid.

Faoi mar a fhoráiltear i gCiorclán 0012/2021 tá gach ceann de na 5 iar-bhunscoil oileánda rannpháirteach sa Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta agus ag fáil 7 n-uair an chloig de theagasc breise sa tseachtain, ag teacht le rollú na scoile, le haghaidh tacaíocht bhreise Ghaeilge. Ó 2018 ar aghaidh, íocadh deontas de €1200 le gach iar-bhunscoil Ghaeltachta chun acmhainní teagaisc Gaeilge a cheannach.

Ó 2019 ar aghaidh, tugadh deis do na 5 iar-bhunscoil Ghaeltachta oileánda a bheith rannpháirteach sa tionscadal píolótach ríomh-mhool ina n-úsáidtear soláthar foghlama cumaisc ar líne chun rochtain a sholáthar do mhic léinn ar Fhisic na hArdteistiméireachta.

Roghnaigh trí iar-bhunscoil oileánda bheith i measc na scoileanna tionscadail r-moil agus tá acmhainní breise curtha ar fáil do na scoileanna seo lena n-áirítear maoiniú aon-uaire (€5,000) do gach scoil chun trealamh teicneolaíochta a cheannach. Tá leithdháileadh breise de 4 huair an chloig de theagasc sa tseachtain curtha ar fáil do gach ceann de na trí iar-bhunscoil rannpháirteacha a bhfuil ríomh-mheantóir ag teastáil chun tacú le scoláirí.

Leagtar amach sa Straitéis Dhigiteach do scoileanna 2015-2020 beartas reatha na Roinne maidir le húsáid na dteicneolaíochtaí digiteacha sa teagasc, san fhoghlaim agus sa mheasúnú ar fud na earnáil na scoileanna. Tacaíonn Creat Foghlama Digiteach agus treoirlínte cuimsitheacha um pleanáil don fhoghlaim dhigiteach, FGL, acmhainní agus tacaíochtaí cuimsitheacha do mhúinteoirí agus do cheannairí scoile le cur i bhfeidhm na straitéise sna scoileanna. Tá na tacaíochtaí seo ar fáil do gach scoil. In 2020, eisíodh €100m i maoiniú deontais do scoileanna le haghaidh bonneagar TFC lena n-áirítear thart ar €70,000 a eisíodh do scoileanna oileánda. Tá nascacht leathanbhanda ag gach scoil a mhaoiníonn an Roinn go díreach trína Clár Rochtana Leathanbhanda do Scoileanna. Tá straitéis nua digiteach á cur i dtoll a chéile.

Tar éis comhfhreagras a bheith curtha faoi bhráid na Roinne, lena n-áirítear tuarascáil an Oireachtais inar sainaithníodh na dúshláin uathúla atá le sárú ag scoileanna oileánda, bunaíodh grúpa oibre idir-rannach sa Roinn Oideachais chun féachaint ar na roghanna a bhí ann chun díriú ar na dúshláin seo agus chun moltaí a leagan amach chun tacú leis na hiar-bhunscoileanna oileánda sa Ghaeltacht.

Cuireadh pacáiste tacaíochtaí breise ar fáil do gach ceann de na cúig iar-bhunscoil oileánda ó Mheán Fómhair 2018 ar aghaidh. Tá na tacaíochtaí seo ar fáil de bhreis ar na tacaíochtaí a fhaigheann scoileanna mar chuid den Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta. Cuimsíonn an pacáiste tacaíochtaí:

- leithdháileadh breise múinteoirí do gach ceann de na hiar-bhunscoileanna oileánda, ó leithdháileadh de 1 phost coibhéise fostaí lánaimseartha go 1.5 post coibhéise fostaí lánaimseartha

- buiséad breise imfhálaithe de €15,000 sa bhliain do gach scoil

- bunú Choláiste Naomh Eoin, a raibh stádas mar Aonad Teanga aici roimhe seo, mar iar-bhunscoil neamhspleách ar Inis Meáin, Contae na Gaillimhe.

Cuireann mo Roinn buiséid pá agus neamhphá ar fáil do gach Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna (BOO) chun tacú lena scoileanna BOO aonair, coláistí, ceannoifig agus ionaid oideachais eile, lena n-áirítear na 5 iar-bhunscoil oileánda. Is faoi gach Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna atá sé na hacmhainní seo a chaitheamh sna scoileanna ina réigiún. Sa scoilbhliain 2021/2022, leithroinneadh 15 phost múinteoireachta ar Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Ghaillimh Ros Comáin agus leithdháileadh 9 bpost múinteoireachta ar Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall i leith scoileanna oileánda, scoileanna beaga, scoileanna Gaeltachta agus scoileanna comhoideachais in abhantraigh aonair. Is faoi Phríomhfheidhmeannach gach scéim BOO atá sé an leithdháileadh foirne seo a dháileadh, lena n-áirítear poist do Scoileanna Beaga.

Leanfaidh an Roinn Oideachais d’ionadaíocht a bheith aici ar an gCoiste Idir-Rannach um Fhorbairt na nOileán, a bhunaigh an Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta in 2019.

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My Department recognises the very important role played by small schools and island schools in maintaining the communities and culture of the islands, and is therefore strongly committed to the maintenance of the schools on the islands. For this reason and in recognition of the unique challenges faced by island schools my Department has provided additional supports to such schools.

As provided for in Circular 0012/2021 each of the 5 island post-primary schools are participating in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme and are in receipt of 7 additional teaching hours per week, in line with school enrolment, for additional Irish-language support. From 2018 onwards, a grant of €1200 has been paid to each post-primary Gaeltacht school to purchase Irish-language teaching resources.

From 2019 onwards, the 5 island post-primary Gaeltacht schools have been given an opportunity to participate in the e-hub pilot project that utilises an online blended-learning provision to provide access to students to Leaving Certificate Physics.

Three island post-primary schools opted to participate in the e-Hub project schools and these schools have been provided with additional resources including once-off funding (€5,000) for each school to purchase technology equipment. An additional allocation of 4 teaching hours per week has been provided for each of the three participating post-primary schools where an e-mentor is required to support students.

The Digital Strategy for schools 2015-2020 sets out the Department’s current policy on the use of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment across the school sector. The implementation of the strategy in schools is supported by a Digital Learning Framework (DLF) and comprehensive digital learning planning guidelines, extensive CPD, resources and supports for teachers and school leaders. These supports are available to all schools. In 2020, €100m in grant funding issued to schools for ICT Infrastructure including some €70,000 that issued to the Island schools. All schools have broadband connectivity funded directly by the Department through its Schools Broadband Access Programme. The development of a new digital strategy is underway.

Following the submission of correspondence to the Department, including the Oireachtas report identifying the unique challenges facing island schools, an intradepartmental working group was established in the Department of Education to explore the options for addressing these challenges and to set out recommendations to support post-primary schools located on islands in the Gaeltacht.

A package of additional supports was provided for each of the five island post-primary schools from September 2018 onwards. These supports are available in addition to the supports schools receive as part of the Gaeltacht Schools Recognition Scheme. The package of supports comprises:

- an additional teacher allocation for each of the island post-primary schools from an allocation of 1 full-time equivalent post to 1.5 full-time equivalent posts

- an additional ring-fenced budget of €15,000 per annum for each school

- the establishment of Coláiste Naomh Eoin, that previously had the status of an Aonad Teanga, as an independent stand-alone post-primary school on Inis Meáin, County Galway.

My Department provides each Educational Training Board (ETB) with pay and non-pay budgets to support its individual ETB schools, colleges, head office and other centres of education, which would include the 5 Post-Primary island schools. It is a matter for each ETB how best to utilise such resources across the schools in their region. In the 2021/2022 school year, Galway Roscommon ETB was allocated 15 teaching posts and Donegal ETB was allocated 9 teaching posts in respect of island schools, small schools, Gaeltacht schools and co-ed schools in single catchment areas. The distribution of this staffing allocation including Small School posts is a matter for the Chief Executive of each ETB scheme.

The Department of Education will continue to be represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee for the Development of the Islands, which was established by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2019.

Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 294.

Question No. 296 answered with Question No. 294.

Ukrainian War

Ceisteanna (297)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

297. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the response of her Department to the Ukrainian war crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13720/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue.

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the Government’s position that the continuing Russian military action against Ukraine is illegal and immoral.

The war in Ukraine has caused a humanitarian crisis and the Government is committed to welcoming people fleeing war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland.

The Government has adopted a whole of government approach to supporting the people who arrive here.

Our schools have a strong tradition of welcoming children of all nationalities and backgrounds and have experience of doing this throughout the school year. As the Deputy will know, we already support a linguistically and culturally diverse community in Ireland.

The Department already provides additional allocations for schools with high concentration of pupils that require language support.

The NCCA has published a range of resources to support learners with English as an additional language (EAL) across Early Childhood, Primary and Post-Primary. These materials aim to support teachers and early childhood practitioners to nurture the language development of EAL learners. Further guidance about these resources will issue to schools shortly.

Where children of school going age have already arrived in Ireland with families, and are in accommodation with friends and family, and want to access the school system right away, schools that have capacity locally will welcome these children in the usual way.

The overall position in relation to Ukraine continues to evolve and my Department will be providing guidance to schools shortly which will assist them in dealing with any immediate queries. It will include information for schools on how to respond if they don’t have capacity in their school, so that we can make accessing a school as easy as possible for these families that have endured so much.

I will be putting in place a helpline for schools and putting information online and on social media for parents in relevant languages to support them in accessing schooling for children.

We are assessing the impact and planning for a range of scenarios in terms of the numbers of children that may arrive in the coming weeks and months.

Where people will be living will have a direct impact on where children will require schooling or access to education supports.

My officials have already spoken to the staff unions and management bodies and work is underway, engaging with other Government Departments, agencies and stakeholders and we are planning for a range of scenarios and we will continue to work in collaboration with all relevant agencies, across government and with the education partners to put in place appropriate responses.

Where temporary crisis measures are put in place, we will assess what education provision is appropriate and possible in those circumstances.

Bullying in Educational Institutions

Ceisteanna (298)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

298. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if all procedures are being followed to ensure support is being given to the child of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13754/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy that the matter to which he refers is known to my Officials who have followed the Department’s procedures relating to this matter and have written directly to the individual named on the 4th March 2022

For a child or young person, the experience of bullying can be a deeply traumatic one, and stands in direct opposition to the sense of security, opportunity, and nourishment which we hope all of our students feel in the school system. I know that bullying experienced by even one child or young person is one too many and I commit to doing all that I can to prevent its occurrence. Coming from the school sector, I know how seriously this issue is treated by schools, but I also know we must do all that we can to support schools in addressing it.

Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 all schools are required to have in place a code of behaviour that accords with Developing a Code of Behaviour: Guidelines for Schools as published by the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), now referred to as the Educational Welfare Service (EWS). Each school is required to have an anti-bullying policy within its overall code of behaviour. The anti-bullying procedures are underpinned by this legal framework and all schools are required to comply with them.

Under the procedures, all school boards of management are required to adopt and implement an anti-bullying policy which fully complies with the requirements of these procedures. A template anti-bullying policy which must be used by all schools for this purpose is included in the procedures. In accordance with the Anti-Bullying Procedures, where a parent is not satisfied that a school has dealt with a bullying case in accordance with the procedures the parents must be referred, as appropriate to the schools complaints procedures. Where there is cause for complaint from a parent matters would normally be addressed to the individual teacher or school Principal as appropriate. If matters cannot be resolved at that level then a complaint can be addressed to the school’s Board of Management.

Anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools are available on the gov.ie website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/cb6966-anti-bullying-procedures-for-primary-and-post-primary-schools/ .

In addition the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides a psychological service to schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the well-being, inclusion and participation of all children and young people in the school setting.

Parents who are concerned about their child should make contact with the school principal to discuss the situation. The school principal can request a consultation with the psychologist assigned to the school, if deemed appropriate.

There are also a variety of services available to young children to provide support and advice on their well-being and mental health. I have included contact details for a number of these below that may be of assistance.

- National Parents Council:

- The National Parents Council Information/Helpline is a confidential service for parents. The Information/Helpline officers listen, and give information and support to parents to help them make the best possible decisions for and with their children: Information/Helpline: Tel: 01 887 4477 (Monday - Tuesday 10am - 4pm; Wednesday - Friday 10am - 5pm) Email : helpline@npc.ie

- Childline.ie:

- Their contact number is Freephone 1800 66 66 66 or Free Text: 50101. They will be able to talk to you regarding your current situation and can help you. If you do not have access to a phone you can carry out a live message chat online with them.

- Tackle Bullying:

- Tackle Bullying is a national website to counter bullying and cyberbullying for young people, parents and teachers. They are funded by the Department of Education under the 2013 Action Plan in Bullying (2013) and our site provides a single point of contact for those who are affected or concerned about Bullying and Cyberbullying-related incidents. Website: www.tacklebullying.ie/

School Enrolments

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307 and 308 together.

My Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country including county Kildare.

In 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.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area.

- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area.

- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils.

- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area.

The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across a number of school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities/patrons. The Department has been working closely with representatives of schools in Co Kildare to deliver appropriate solutions to provide any required school places, including the provision of necessary accommodation.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland.

Approximately 1,200 school building projects under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction – most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 including in county Kildare, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

School place needs across all school planning areas will continue to be kept under review, using refreshed Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and other updated information as they become available.