Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a geographical information system to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including school enrolment data and information on residential development activity, is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department's projections of school place requirements.

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, the Department makes an assessment of existing capacity in that area and its ability to meet any increased demand. Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post-primary level, the delivery of such is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may be provided through one or a combination of the following: utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools, extending the capacity of a school or schools and provision of a new school or schools.

The Department's projections of post-primary school place requirements in east Cork show continued growth in enrolments in the short to medium term across most areas, with most growth anticipated in the Midleton-Carrigtwohill school planning area. In response to projected future need and to enrolment pressures in the area, there has been significant capital investment by the Department in post-primary schools in east Cork.

While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in east Cork, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may be the consequence of a number of issues, for example, duplication of applications; school of choice; where some towns or areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils; or there may be an external draw of pupils coming from outside the local area.

The Department is working to establish the true extent of capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies, including patrons of schools in east Cork, to identify capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action.

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