Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:436. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the number of school places currently unfilled in schools in Lucan, County Dublin at both primary and secondary school level. [51449/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 18 October 2022
Ceisteanna (436)
Freagraí scríofa
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 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.
New schools established since 2011 to meet demographic demand are required, in the first instance, to prioritise pupil applications from within the designated school planning area(s) which the school was established to serve. This does not preclude schools from enrolling pupils from outside of the school planning area where they have sufficient places, rather it reflects the need to accommodate in the first instance the demographic for which the school was established.
Aside from the obligation outlined above, the question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the Board of Management on behalf of the school Patron. A survey of schools' capacity to accommodate Ukrainian students undertaken by my Department earlier in 2022 indicated good capacity across primary and post primary level in the Lucan school planning area, with potential capacity of circa 500 places being identified by schools, mostly at primary level.
My Department does, additionally, work with patrons and school authorities to establish the true extent of any capacity issues in an area. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department proactively engages with patron bodies to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. It is expected that the enrolment pressures will reduce in the short-term as such planned additional capacity comes on stream and as demographic demand moves past its peak.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, 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.