Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an cheist a ardú mar go dtugann sé deis dom an cás mar atá sé faoi láthair a shoiléiriú i dtaca le soláthar iarbhunoideachais i gCoill na Silíní. I would like to thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, to clarify the current position relating to post-primary school provision in Cherrywood.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas. The Department uses a geographical information system that uses data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit data and school enrolment data to identify where the pressures for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Major new residential developments have the potential to significantly impact the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, the Department factors in planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with proactive engagement with local authorities. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.

The planned establishment of a new post-primary school in 2021 to specifically serve the Cherrywood SDZ, which is in the Sallynoggin, Killiney, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown school planning area, was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise.The announcement also provided for the establishment of two new primary schools to serve the Cherrywood SDZ area specifically. One of these two primary schools was designated as an Irish-medium Gaelscoil. Further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of the planned new schools, taking into account a number of factors, including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the Cherrywood area, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the school-planning area. The Department is satisfied that existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the school-planning area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new post-primary school and Irish-medium primary school has been deferred.

Since 2011, new arrangements have been put in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places, based on demographic exercises carried out by the Department. New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth, as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase to ensure that every child has a school place. These arrangements also give an opportunity for patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental patronage, language preferences and analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established. This approach is underpinned by a 2011 Government decision.

I would say the Seanadóir is very disappointed with the answer I have just given. I am sorry I had to deliver the bad news. I will be sure to bring back his comments to the Minister.