Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
450. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which forward planning for extra school places at primary and second level throughout Kildare north continues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50296/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra451. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which ongoing discussion is taking place with the various school authorities at primary and second level in Kildare north, with particular reference to advancing existing projects or initiating new proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50297/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she expects to be in a position to meet the requirements as set out by the various primary and second level school authorities in Kildare north to be met within reasonable time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50298/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra454. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the progress to date in addressing deficiencies in accommodation at primary and second level in Naas, County Kildare, with particular reference to projects of long-standing projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50300/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra456. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she and her Department continue to monitor education requirements in Maynooth, County Kildare, having regard to the population growth in the area; the number of children who are currently in primary school and who are likely to be in need of second education in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50302/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 450, 451, 452, 454 and 456 together.
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. This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects 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.
During the period 2018 to 2021 691 school building projects were completed under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 64,000 school places.
There are approximately 1,300 school building projects currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction under the Large Scale and Additional School Accommodation Scheme, of which 48 school building projects are in County Kildare. Most of these projects are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period 2022 to 2025.
The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
This also lists all school building projects completed under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme, in county order, from 2010 to date.
I also 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, including North Kildare, 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.
The requirement for additional school places in North Kildare school planning areas is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements and in this regard will be making a submission to the draft Co. Kildare Development Plan 2023-2029 which is currently at public consultation stage. 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.
