Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a geographical information system to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including child benefit data and school enrolment data, in addition to information on residential development activity, is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

As part of the Department's commitment to the national planning framework, as part of Project Ireland 2040, and with the objective of ensuring appropriate educational provision for future populations, my Department engages proactively with the 31 local authorities in the development of their statutory plans. In the context of Limerick city, my Department has had regular engagement with Limerick City and County Council through the development and adoption of its development plan for the period 2022 to 2028. This has allowed my Department to plan for projected population growth of 30,000 people in Limerick city over the course of the development plan and in the context of projected overall population growth of over 50,000 in the city by 2040.

However, it is important to note that the impact of population growth on school place requirements is mitigated by changing demographic trends. Despite projected national population growth, the number of primary students is forecast to reduce by 100,000 over the next decade. While post-primary enrolments are expected to peak in 2024, they are forecast to decline by 70,000 over the subsequent ten years.

The impact on school places of the projected population growth in Limerick city is being considered in that context, with a view to identifying any further accommodation solutions required to meet the capacity requirements. However, as I know the Deputy is aware, it is important to note that my Department is already delivering significant additional capacity at schools in the city as part of its capital programme.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion in capital investment over the period 2021 to 2025. There will be a rolling five-year funding envelope, which will be updated annually for the period 2026 to 2030 within the Government's overall national development plan funding envelope of €136 billion in Exchequer capital – €165 billion total capital including non-Exchequer capital. This will facilitate the building of modern and sustainable school infrastructure.

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