Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber. I would like the Minister for Education to make a statement on plans to build a second post-primary school in Kinsale, which is a wonderful part of the world. History and geography have been very good to Kinsale over millions of years. It is a growing, thriving town. Its population has grown enormously over the last few years. In the 2016 census, the population of Kinsale had risen to 5,281. The county development plan states that by 2028 it is expected that the population of Kinsale will be 7,342. That is a significant growth. That growth is clear in all the current developments in Kinsale.

Not only is Kinsale thriving and building but the rural villages around it are also developing. Kinsale is our shopping, entertainment and also educational destination. When it comes to post-primary choice in our part of the world, we all feed into Kinsale. Pupils from schools in Dunderrow, Ballinadee, Ballinspittle, Belgooly, Minane Bridge, Nohoval, Kilbrittain and Ballyheedy go to Kinsale for post-primary school and there are another four primary schools in the town. It is amazing that there are 12 primary schools feeding into this post-primary destination of Kinsale. The town currently has only one post-primary school, which is a unique complex. There has been savage growth in the school over the last few years. While it is a high-class school, it is also the only one. Other towns have a similar population but more schools. Bandon is slightly bigger but has four post-primary schools. Carrigaline is significantly bigger and also has four post-primary schools. There is very much a need for choice. We need to plan ahead and take into consideration the projected growth in the county development plan and the growth in the villages around Kinsale. We need to strategically plan for educational infrastructure for Kinsale.

As I said, there have been major increases in Kinsale's post-primary capacity in the past few years. We now need to plan ahead for a second post-primary school for Kinsale. That is the key. We need plans so there is another destination that will complement the one we have. That is realistically what the town of Kinsale needs. It is very unusual to have such a population increase and not have a strategic plan in place for educational needs. It shows a lack of joined-up thinking in so many ways. The Department of Education must come up with a long-term vision for the town that incorporates the entire hinterland as well. That is the key issue here.

I hope we can start a debate this morning on a second post-primary school for Kinsale. We are going through a county development plan process and we can look at proposals to get land zoned. Even without the county development plan process, it would be appropriate to look at that school complex in a strategic and holistic way. We can start this debate and hopefully move forward and get plans in place for Kinsale so it can move forward in the future.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I can hear in his voice his passion for education in Kinsale. 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 will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, the Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain up-to-date information on significant new residential developments in each area. This is necessary to ensure that school infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes. Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets also inform the Department's projections of school place requirements. Where demographic data indicate that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided by utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools, extending the capacity of a school or schools, or the provision of a new school or schools.

There is one post-primary school, Kinsale Community School, in the Kinsale school planning area. This is a co-educational school catering for boys and girls and serves the post-primary demand in the Kinsale school planning area. The school has a current enrolment of 1,326 pupils for the 2021-22 school year. Current demographic data indicate that the peak enrolment year in the Kinsale school planning area is projected to be in 2024, when it will have 1,393 pupils.Subsequently, enrolments are projected to decrease to 1,225 by 2028.

With regard to meeting the current and future accommodation needs of Kinsale Community School, the Department has approved a significant level of additional accommodation for the school. In March 2021, approval was given for the provision of 12 mainstream classrooms in modular accommodation, procured through the Department's framework, to meet the school's immediate enrolment need. More recently, further accommodation was approved consisting of ten mainstream classrooms, two science laboratories, five specialist rooms, a library, a meeting room, a general purpose room, a five-classroom special educational needs base and various ancillary accommodation, including storage and preparation areas.

Both projects have been devolved to the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools for delivery. It is intended that the school will have capacity to cater for a minimum of 1,350 pupils when the totality of the additional accommodation is provided on the school site. This will then meet the projected post-primary school demand in the Kinsale school planning area for the foreseeable future. The Department, therefore, has no plans to provide a further post-primary school in Kinsale. The requirement, however, for additional school places is kept under ongoing review. Additionally, the Department will continue to liaise with the local authority in respect of its review of the county development plan, with a view to ensuring that any potential long-term school accommodation requirements are anticipated.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is about the county development plan process and tying everything together. We probably need to talk about a complex that will have the capability for transportation links to be built in. We need to strategically plan ahead on a ten-year basis. I am not alone looking at the development of Kinsale but the villages around it, which are all very scenic. There is extensive development at present. The housing developments in Kinsale, when the census is published in eight months' time, will show a very significant change in population figures. I question whether the data on reaching peak enrolment are correct because I do not see a peak at present. I see a growth in population, not alone in Kinsale, but in the entire district.

We need to plan for how the schools will interact with society. We need to talk about school transportation links and cycleways. If we do not engage with the county development plan now, we will probably be seven years behind the curve again. That would be very unfortunate.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I take the Senator's point about the need for choice in order that it is not just about having one school, in addition to making sure that we have growth, not just for Kinsale town but the surrounding villages, and that the estimates for that growth are correct.

The Senator will know that we have a big programme for sustainable transportation links to nearby communities so people do not have to drive their children to school. I want to be sure that his area and county are getting their fair share of that. There is €360 million available and Cork should be getting a significant amount of that. We are getting our share in my area of Dún Laoghaire so the Senator should make sure that his local authority is applying for that money.

From speaking to the Minister, the Department will continue to keep the school accommodation requirements in Kinsale under review. She said that she will be informed by demographic analysis and engagement with the local authority, but it is currently anticipated that the significant capital investment in Kinsale Community School will provide sufficient post-primary capacity in the area and facilitate the school in continuing to provide a high standard of education for the students of Kinsale.