Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position on Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Ballydoogan, Sligo. The over-riding objective of education capital expenditure is to meet the demographic challenge facing the education system, whereby total pupil enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by around 107,000 additional pupils between 2012 and 2019, over 70,000 at primary level and over 35,000 at post-primary level. The rise will continue until 2026 at least, which is good news for Ireland. To ensure every child has access to a physical school place, it is vital that there be sufficient school accommodation available to cater for these pupil enrolments. The five year construction plan prioritises major school projects in areas in which future significant demographic changes have been identified. A priority for the Department is to ensure schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places in the area. The Department is not in a position to develop one school where this may negatively impact on other schools in the area.

There are 13 primary schools in the Sligo catchment area, including Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, which has not been identified as an area of demographic growth. Total pupil enrolments in the catchment area have been relatively stable, with a decrease in overall enrolments of 167 pupils in the school year period 2004 to 2013. This relatively stable enrolment position is projected to continue until 2019, although it is anticipated that overall pupil enrolment numbers will decline thereafter. There is sufficient school accommodation capacity available within existing schools to cater for the demand for school places.

In the case of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, enrolments have also been relatively stable. While pupil enrolments increased from 140 pupils in 2003-04 to 181 pupils in 2008-09, in the five year period since 2009 enrolments have increased by 11 pupils, bringing the overall number to 192 pupils. In this regard, the Senator will appreciate that as overall pupil enrolments in the area are relatively stable, the provision of an additional eight classrooms catering for up to 224 pupils in the case of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré has the potential to have a significant negative impact on other schools in the same catchment area.

To enable the Department to assess further the pupil enrolments trend in the Sligo catchment area, including information on school pre-enrolments for the 2014-15 academic year, it has commenced a further review, as part of which it will be contacting the patron and school authorities of all 13 primary schools in the area. Once the pupil enrolment data have been collected, collated and considered, the Department will communicate further with the patron and school authorities of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré.

I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to clarify the current position on Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Ballydoogan, Sligo.