Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The delivery of school projects so that all schools in an area can, between them, cater for all students seeking a school place is the main focus of my Department’s capital budget.

To this end, my Department uses a geographical information system to identify the school planning areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide.

The area in which the school, referred to by the Deputy, is located has not been identified as an area of demographic growth. The Department considers that there are sufficient primary school places in the school planning area to meet pupil demand and in that context, the application for additional accommodation was not approved.

While my Department will keep the enrolment position in the planning area under review, it is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in school planning areas to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of another school.

In that context, my Department has suggested to the school that it use its available accommodation to meet immediate accommodation requirements.

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