Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans to provide additional accommodation and space for a school (details supplied) in Dundalk which is a secondary school and also a further education centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22884/23]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Are there any plans to provide additional accommodation and space for Ó Fiaich College in Dundalk? It is a post-primary school and also a further education institute. I would appreciate if the Minister could make a statement on the matter. I think I am on the record as saying my own kids have attended the school, both at institute and post-primary levels. It does a huge amount of work in the area as regards school completion and all the rest of it. I just think we are constrained by space.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy again, in the interests of context, that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system using data from a range of sources, including child benefit and school enrolment data to identify where the pressure for school places across the country, including Dundalk, will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at either primary or post-primary level.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. We are conscious of that. In that regard, as part of the annual demographic exercises, the Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. The most recent analysis undertaken by the Department indicates that 85% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show static or decreasing enrolments for the period to 2026 compared with 2021. At post-primary level, 74% of school planning areas are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2029, with most expected to reach a peak within the next two or three years.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through utilising existing capacity, extending capacity, or through the provision of a new school or schools.

The expansion of existing schools is typically delivered by means of my Department's additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is provided. It is open to all school authorities to make an application for additional accommodation through the ASA scheme. Based on analysis of school place requirements, in recent years my Department approved ASA scheme applications by St. Vincent's Secondary School and De La Salle College in Dundalk to provide additional mainstream capacity as well as increased provision for students with special educational needs. That has been provided for and the projects are under way. I wish to advise the Deputy that there is no current record of an application for additional accommodation from Ó Fiaich College. The Department will continue to work to advance current projects and to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements in Dundalk, both for the coming academic year and into the future.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I suppose on some level this is one of the few instances where it crosses the Minister's Department and also that of the Minister, Deputy Harris, in respect of further education. I could be slightly off on my figures but I am going to say the school has a relatively small population of 275 but it is operating in a DEIS area. I can only speak in the highest terms about the specific interventions that have been done in that school. It is really positive that it is colocated with a further education institute. My stepson and my oldest son have both been through the post-leaving certificate, PLC, programme. Actually our Conor is still going through it at the minute and we will see what results he gets but that is for another day. The fact is that it is constrained by space. I got a note from the special educational needs organiser, SENO, when I asked about schools throughout north Louth. I was told that an expression of interest letter was issued to the school by the NCSE requesting that an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, class or classes be open in September 2024 but this would be dependent on an extension to the school as there is no current capacity.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy and appreciate how positively he speaks of the school. I salute and acknowledge the excellent work that takes place in the school every single day to deliver education and cater to students. I want to make clear that there is not an application with the Department. It is open to the school to make an application and it will be evaluated at that time. I especially acknowledge the work on inclusive education and providing for children and young people with additional needs. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, wishes to do similarly. There is not currently a specific application but if that were to change, we would analyse it.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I understand there are processes. I have had initial conversations with the school and with the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB. Those will continue in the near future and an overall plan is probably required. My youngest son Turlough attends the school. Turlough is autistic. He is in mainstream school. I can only say, once again, very positive things. I was only making the point about the communication from the SENO in relation to the fact the area is constrained. The post-primary school population is to increase. There are a number of developments in Haggardstown in close proximity. Beyond that, we are talking about in or around 740 students attending the PLC college at this point, with that number expected to increase by possibly 100. We just do not have the space. This is a conversation that will involve the Minister and the Minister, Deputy Harris. I will be dealing with the LMETB post haste.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate this matter crosses two different briefs as there is a further education element to it as well. I also appreciate that the Deputy may well have had conversations about what the college is intending to do and what its vision is. All I can say is we have a considerable record in delivery of new builds and additional accommodation. There were 180 builds last year and there are 300 on hand at this time, 40 of which are brand-new school builds with the remaining 260 additional accommodation. We have a budget of €4.4 billion between now and 2025 for the delivery of the school building programme, so we have an ambitious programme. We recognise that everything in education is in a constant state of flux and the needs of schools change from time to time. I appreciate, therefore, that this may be a pre-emptive strike by the Deputy in terms of the needs of the school in question. We will see what is forthcoming from the school itself.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The LMETB might even agree with the Minister.