Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. This is an issue that has been raised this week by Deputy Murphy O'Mahony and Senator Tim Lombard as well. The vast majority of post-primary school capacity is not an issue and schools can enrol all pupils that are seeking a school place. Where issues exist, Department of Education and Skills officials actively engage with all the relevant parties to resolve them and will do so in regard to Bandon. The Department is aware that enrolment issues have arisen in a number of areas in regard to post-primary school places for September 2020, including in west and east Cork. To plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses the geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country is likely to arise. With this information, the Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed. Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. As part of its demographic exercises, the Department engages with local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential developments. This is necessary to ensure that school infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes as there is a constantly evolving picture with planning for new residential accommodation.

On Bandon, as the Deputy will be aware, there are three post-primary schools servicing the Bandon school planning area, Bandon grammar school, which is fee-paying, an all-girls secondary school and, as mentioned by the Deputy, St. Brogan's college, which is coeducational. The Department has approved capital funding for St. Brogan's college, Bandon to expand school capacity significantly. This permanent extension of four classrooms and other support rooms, has been delayed as planning permission has been appealed. It is now envisaged that construction will commence on site in quarter 2 of 2020, with the school accommodation becoming available in 2021. In the interim, the Department has provided grant aid for the rental of four prefabricated units and these are currently in use. Officials from the Department are continuing to actively liaise with the school principals in Bandon to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place in 2020.

Anyone who is giving the advice that parents should be home schooling or sending their children to Cork city for a school place is not giving good advice. This is a problem that should be, and will be, sorted between the Department of Education and Skills and the school principals involved to ensure that every child in Bandon has a school place to go to.

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