Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I am arranging to circulate the list referred to by the Deputy for the information of the House. The forward planning section of my Department carried out an initial demographic analysis utilising the current enrolments in schools, and applied growth scenarios to those figures for each region based on information such as the CSO regional population projections 2011-26 to establish probable enrolments into the future. This information formed the basis of a priority list of areas requiring further investigation.

To complete this further analysis, the forward planning section of my Department utilises the latest in geographical information system, GIS, technology to assist in planning school requirements in the future. The GIS contains information on all schools in the country, at primary and post-primary level, geo-coded to their location. The information is then linked to the relevant demographic information for those areas - typically the demographic information will be from the Central Statistic's Office census data, the general register of births, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, An Post's geo-directory and information supplied by local authorities through development plans.

The requirement for additional primary provision in years 2010, 2011 and 2012 is likely to be greatest in more than 40 locations across the country based on significant changes to the demographics of those areas. A thorough analysis of all of these areas is in progress by the forward planning section of my Department. Information in regard to these areas has already been circulated to all existing school patrons, who have been invited to bring forward proposals for the expansion of existing schools or to put themselves forward as patron for any new primary school, should it be required. Any proposed building projects arising from the detailed studies carried out on those priority areas will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme for 2010 and subsequent years.

Priority List of Areas

To determine the areas where new school buildings will be required for September 2010 Forward Planning Section has examined the 42 areas (details provided) in terms of existing school capacity and projected junior infant intake (using data from Social Welfare and the GRO in terms of Child Benefit recipients and birth figures) and in this context it has been decided that it would be prudent to plan for new schools in the following areas for September 2010:

- Balbriggan, Dublin Fingal

- Swords, Dublin Fingal

- Doughiska, County Galway

- Naas, County Kildare

- Portlaoise, County Laois

- Drogheda, County Louth

- Navan, County Meath

- Ratoath, County Meath

- Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Carlow

Carlow

Cavan

Cavan

Clare

Ennis

Cork

Carrigaline

Cork City

Fermoy

Mallow

Midleton/ Carrigtwohill

Donegal

Letterkenny

Dublin

Areas within Dublin 7 region

Areas within Dublin 15 region

Areas within Dublin 24 region

Balbriggan

Ballinteer

Clondalkin

Areas within Finglas/Ballymun region

Lucan

Areas within Dublin 1 region /Marino/ Clontarf region

Mulhuddart region

Newcastle/ Rathcoole

Rush & Lusk

Sandymount/ Ringsend

Swords

Galway

Athenry

Galway City

Kildare

Celbridge

Naas

Newbridge

Prosperous/ Clane

Kilkenny

Kilkenny

Laois

Portarlington

Portlaoise

Limerick

Limerick City

Louth

Drogheda

Dundalk

Meath

Ashbourne

Navan

Trim

Westmeath

Athlone

Mullingar

Wexford

Enniscorthy

Wicklow

Wicklow

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