Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2023
294. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if any sites have been identified for a new primary school in Bray, County Wicklow; if there have been discussions with Wicklow County Council on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5275/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe planned establishment of a new primary school in 2021 to serve the Bray/Woodbrook Shanganagh school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise. Further analysis has 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.
Provision has been made in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan for a designated primary school site in the Woodbrook area. This site is ideally located to serve the planned new residential developments in Woodbrook and Shanganagh.
It had been projected, in 2018, that these residential lands would be developed in a shorter timeframe. However, two significant residential developments in this area have now commenced and will be built out in over the next number of years.
My Department is satisfied that the existing demand in the Bray/Woodbrook Shanganagh school planning area can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in this area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new school has been 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. My Department will continue to liaise with the Local Authority in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and local developers in respect to the projected completion of these residential developments.
