Seanad debates
Thursday, 7 December 2023
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Schools Building Projects
9:30 am
Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I am looking for an update on what assessment of need has been carried out by the Department of Education with regard to a new secondary school for the Duleek area. More than a year and a half ago I laid out a case for a new secondary school, in a Commencement matter which was answered by Deputy English. Figures from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, clearly show that our population has increased by more than 14% in recent years. The development of new houses along with the granting of planning permissions in our area and the surrounding areas shows that another secondary school is needed. More than 800 Ukrainians have settled in our area over the past 18 months. All of this increase is leading to the demand for a new secondary school in our area. Not only do we need a new school but we also have the land available on which to build it. In 2005 the Bishop of Meath tried to rezone lands owned by the community and St. Finian's Diocesan Trust. That was the only piece of community land we had for the provision of community and educational facilities in our town. Thankfully at that time I tabled a motion to the effect that this land would not be rezoned. Hence, we have 27 acres ready to go. The bishop said that if the Department of Education wants that land for the provision of a secondary school, it is there for the Department to negotiate with the Trust. There is good access to the site on Station Road and also from the business park, through which cars and buses could enter. Pedestrian access is available from Main Street. In 2018 the Department decided to build a secondary school. We thought we were going to get this for the Duleek area as there was clearly a need at the time. There still is. Unfortunately it went over to the Grangerath and Mornington area. There was nothing we could do about it. That was an Educate Together school. We did not win the vote at that time.
Clearly however, our population has increased remarkably since that time. We have 12 feeder schools, five of which are in the parish, namely, Duleek Boys' National School, Duleek Girls' National School, Scoil Cholmcille Mount Hanover, Bellewstown National School, Cushinstown National School. There is also St. Patrick's National School in Ardcath, Donore National School, Knockcommon National School, Kentstown National School, Rathfreigh National School, Skryne National School and Yellow Furze National School. In addition, there is an option for children to come from Whitecross National School or even from Slane or Curragha. The options available at this time are Drogheda, Laytown, Navan, Ashbourne or Grangerath. We have talked about creating a green environment. We talk about giving kids the option to cycle or walk to school. We in Duleek do not have that option. Some of our children must leave for school and be picked up as early as 7.15 a.m. every morning. Building a school within walking distance is important if we want to cut emissions from cars and buses and give children a healthier lifestyle. I hope to get a favourable answer this morning so that hundreds of parents in Duleek and surrounding areas can have a secondary school, and also that I am not inundated with parents' queries early next year when they cannot get their children into schools in the Drogheda, Navan or Ashbourne areas.
Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify how the Department plans for school places and specifically the position in relation to Duleek. I wish to advise the Senator that requirements for additional school places is kept under ongoing review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.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 CSO census data and 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 levels.
The Department compiles enrolment projections for primary and post-primary schools at national and regional level. The latest published projections can be found on the Department's website. The new set of projections is under development and will be published in the new year.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, the Department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO, along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. 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 schools infrastructure planning keeps pace with demographic changes at a local level where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where demographic data indicate additional accommodation is required, its delivery depends on the circumstances of each case. It may be achieved by utilising unused capacity within a school or schools, extending the capacity of a school or schools, or providing a new school or schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 to achieve an increased emphasis on compact growth. New post-primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600 to 1,000 students and must be coeducational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to GaelcholáistĂ, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit in an English-medium school. New schools are established only in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to ensure every child has a school place.
Duleek is located within the Drogheda school planning area. There are eight post-primary schools within that area. The recent demographic projections show peak enrolment for the school planning area in 2024, with a decline thereafter. An analysis of the census 2022 population of Duleek shows the number of children of post-primary school age is less than 500. It is also noticeable that the number of preschool children in the town reduced significantly, by over 25%, from 2016 to 2022. Therefore, the longer-term demand for post-primary school places is projected to reduce, even when new residential developments and overall population increases are taken into consideration.
There are three active projects at stage 1 in the Drogheda school planning area, providing both mainstream and special education needs classroom capacity. These projects are at St. Mary's Diocesan School, St. Oliver's Community College and St. Joseph's CBS, Drogheda. Stage 1 is the preliminary design stage, the stage in which the design team, in conjunction with the school authorities, will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure the preferred option is the best one for the delivery of the brief. There is also a significant post-primary school project at stage 2A, the preliminary design stage, to deliver a new 1,000-pupil school in south Drogheda to accommodate Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School. This will also include a six-classroom special education needs base facility within the school.
The Department will continue to liaise with local authorities in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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This is totally disappointing for the people of Duleek and the surrounding area, unless we consider putting a Gaelscoil there. According to what the Minister of State said, the figures we have and the downward population trend will not allow for the provision of a post-primary school in the area. The schools being provided in the Drogheda area include the Educate Together school over in Mornington. These are going to be the options for children of our area. There is no hope whatsoever of the Government ever delivering a secondary school, despite promises of certain of its Ministers that we would have one in Duleek. It is a sad day. It has taken me three years to get this answer. Every year since I was elected to this Chamber, I have been in here talking about the secondary school for Duleek. It is really disappointing to hear that Duleek has no hope whatsoever of attaining a secondary school.
Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I thank Senator Keogan for giving me the opportunity to address this issue. I have laid out the criteria the Department uses for assessment. They are fairly comprehensive on the population side and in the broader context of the school options available. However, I assure the Senator the Department will continue to monitor demographic projections and enrolments in the area to ensure all pupils have access to a school place.
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking the first three matters. It is greatly appreciated by the House.