Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
360. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if the preliminary census figures indicate that there will be a need for further schools to serve the Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart, Citywest and Brittas areas; if additional educational supports are required for the areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36028/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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.
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 annual 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.
The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 90% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show decreasing enrolments for the period to 2025 compared with 2021, whereas some 88% of school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2028, with most expected to reach a peak in the next two or three years.
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.
Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Citywest are located in the Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area the most recent projections indicate a slight increase in requirements at primary level up to 2024 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. Brittas is located in the Blessington School Planning Area, the most recent projections indicate a decline in requirements at primary level from 2020 onwards.
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity. Additionally, the Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across these school planning areas.
In the latest published primary and post-primary schools enrolments national projections (www.gov.ie/en/collection/projections/ ), the CSO population projections (based on 2016 Census data) were used. In order to derive future schools enrolments, the new CSO population projections (based on 2022 Census results) are needed. The new population projections are not compiled yet. As soon as CSO population projections are available, the Department will update the schools’ enrolment projections model in order to reflect the recent population trends.
A number of major projects for primary and post primary schools in the Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart, Citywest and Brittas areas are at various stages of the design and build process and these projects, when completed, will cater for the demand for school places in the area, including:
Primary Schools
RN19503H Newcastle_Rathcoole Scoil Chronain: Project to deliver 16 classroom school + 2 SEN Base at Stage 2b
RN20531T Newcastle_Rathcoole Gaelscoil Lir: Project to deliver 16 Classroom school + 2 SEN Base at Stage 2b
RN20549P Newcastle_Rathcoole Rathcoole ETNS: Project to deliver 16 Classroom school + 2 SEN Base at Stage 2a
Post Primary Schools
RN76594L Newcastle_Rathcoole Pobal Fola Saggart: Project to deliver 1,000 pupil school + 4 SEN Base at Stage 2b
RN91301D Newcastle Rathcoole Holy Family Comm. School: Project to deliver 1,000 pupil school + 2 SEN Base at Stage 3
