Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising these matters as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the position with regard to the Department of Education and Science policy on multi-school campus arrangements and post-primary school sizes. In the first instance, where possible, the Department favours the development of multi-school campus arrangements. Conceivably, such an arrangement can consist of a primary and a post-primary school, a mix of primary school types, for example, a Gaelscoil and a multi-denominational school, or a mix of primary school types and a post-primary school.

The Department's policy in this area also extends to the development of facilities shared between schools and the development of shared community facilities in tandem with local authorities where this is feasible. The Department generally seeks to implement this policy where a number of new or replacement schools are required in an area at either or both primary and post-primary levels. While this infrastructure policy model applies irrespective of geographic location, it is most advanced in rapidly developing areas such as Dublin 15.

The purpose of this approach to the provision of school infrastructure is to minimise my Department's land requirements, thus reducing spiralling site costs, while at the same time providing local communities with new schools with enhanced facilities. With regard to the size of a new post-primary school, while a school of 750 pupils may be ideal in the view of some observers, ultimately the size of a new school will always depend on the projected level of demand for pupil places. This applies equally at primary level. Demand is established following an examination, usually in consultation with local authorities, of all relevant factors, including demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of any existing schools to play their role in meeting the demand for places. The towns to which the Deputy referred are different in that New Ross is not expanding to the same extent as Gorey.

Generally, in areas of rapid and significant population expansion we can expect to see post-primary schools capable of providing for 1,000 pupils being built. In areas of lesser growth, school sizes can vary between 500 and 800 pupil places, again, strictly depending on the demographics and the likely pupil output from these demographics. Essentially, the size of a post-primary school, or primary school for that matter, will be unique to the demand emanating from the area in which it is situated. Ultimately, the Department wants to ensure a school is sufficient in size to meet the demand for pupil places in its area and can deliver a broad and balanced curriculum as resources are generally allocated based on enrolments.

With regard to Gorey, the Minister's recent announcement of a new post-primary school for that area is in response to her previous acknowledgements of the town's rapidly developing status. In this regard, the population is expected to double in the next six years. The project will be delivered by way of a public private partnership and steps are being taken to secure a site to enable this development. The emphasis was first placed on post-primary provision because of the relatively unique position in Gorey where inward migration is resulting, initially at least, in greater pressure for places at post-primary level than at primary level.

Having said that, the Minister acknowledged that pressure is being brought to bear on the primary sector in Gorey and the Department is examining long-term requirements at this level. This examination will be expedited to ensure that, in the event of an extra primary school being required, its delivery can be considered for inclusion in the public-private partnership bundle, which will include the post-primary school. This has already been taken into account in site identification procedures.

The Department would have no objection to both schools being provided on one site if it transpires that an extra primary school is required. It is significant that two new primary schools, a multi-denominational school and Gaelscoil, were recognised in Gorey in recent years. The position with regard to New Ross, where there is no significant population growth, is more complex. The Deputy will be aware that it has been the Department's objective to rationalise both primary and post-primary educational provision in this area for some time. There is general agreement locally to this development at primary level, but there is no agreement at post-primary level. At this point, it is not clear how long it will take to achieve any such agreement, or if agreement can be achieved.

In the circumstances, being aware of the conditions under which the primary schools are operating, and in recognition of their willingness to rationalise, the Department intends to progress developments for the sector if agreement for the post-primary side is not forthcoming in the near future. In the absence of agreement at post-primary level, the Department has no plans for a greenfield site development for that sector in New Ross. I hope that I have clarified the Department's policy.

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