Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, there has been significant growth in post-primary student numbers in the Swords area in recent years. Across the Swords school planning area, total post-primary enrolments have increased by over 800 pupils since 2011. Enrolments at Fingal Community College have grown by over 300 in that same timeframe and additional accommodation was provided at the school in 2015 and 2016 in order to address the increased pupil numbers.

In the context of further increasing pupil numbers at Fingal Community College the school submitted an application for capital funding under my Department's additional school accommodation scheme. An interim solution to meet the needs of the school was put in place. However, as part of the assessment process for an additional school accommodation application my officials consider not just the existing enrolments at the school, but also anticipated future needs in order to make full and appropriate provision for both current and future students. To anticipate school place requirements, my Department uses a geographical information system, utilising statistical models, child benefit data, school enrolment figures, information on residential development activity, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets and other relevant data. The most recent projections of post-primary school place requirements in the Swords school planning area show continued growth in requirements over the coming years.

Having considered the existing accommodation at the school relative to both current and long-term needs in the area, it was determined that there should be significant additional permanent accommodation provision at Fingal Community College. However, the school site is extremely constrained and this presents significant challenges in delivering the required volume of accommodation. In that context, my Department is working to formulate an appropriate long-term plan to meet the needs of the school and deliver the required accommodation in consultation with the school's patron, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board, ETB.

A number of potential options are being explored in this regard and the Deputy will appreciate that to identify the optimum solution for this school, it is necessary to undertake a full and thorough technical appraisal of these options, which takes some time. Pending the delivery of this long-term solution, the Department will continue to work with Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB as school patron to ensure any necessary interim accommodation requirements are met.

See this speech in context