Seanad debates

Thursday, 14 June 2012

2:00 am

Photo of Ciarán CannonCiarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the current position on the provision of new post-primary schools and the new arrangements the Minister, Deputy RuairĂ­ Quinn, put in place in regard to the recognition of new post-primary schools.

The schoolgoing population has increased significantly in recent years and is expected to continue to increase in the coming years. It is anticipated that, at post-primary level, an additional 24,900 pupils will need school places by 2017, with a further 40,800 needing places between 2017 and 2024, based on the Department's statistics. The figures I have outlined indicate the situation at national level. The challenge for the Department is to establish in which locations the schoolgoing cohort will increase most significantly in order that sufficient school accommodation can be provided to meet demand. The Department is utilising a geographical information system, GIS, for this purpose. The GIS utilises data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the General Register Office and the Department of Social Protection, in addition to the Department's own databases, and the local authorities. The Department has carried out a study of the country to identify where there will be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary level in the coming years.

In June last year the Minister announced that up to 40 new schools were to be established within the next six years to meet our increased demographics. These consisted of 20 new primary schools and 20 new post-primary schools. Included in that announcement was a new post-primary school planned for Lusk, County Dublin, which is scheduled to commence in September 2013. The provision of this new school will greatly enhance second level provision for the area and the new school will provide accommodation for a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils.

The Minister also announced new arrangements for the recognition and determination of patronage of these new primary and post-primary schools. The new arrangements published by the Department provide for a balanced approach to allow applications to be made by prospective patrons for the establishment of schools. The criteria used in deciding patronage of the new schools place a particular emphasis on parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage. Applications for patronage of the new second level schools to be established in 2013 and 2014 were sought by the Department from prospective patrons. Details of the applications received are available on the Department's website. Applications for patronage of the proposed new school in Lusk were received from Educate Together and County Dublin VEC. Departmental officials have assessed all of the applications received in line with the published criteria and a report has been prepared and submitted for the consideration of the new schools establishment group. The group will, in turn, submit recommendations to the Minister for consideration and final decision regarding patronage of the new post-primary schools in the coming weeks.

I again thank the Senator for raising this matter.

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