Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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503. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her plans to deal with the projected increase in demand for school places at primary and post-primary level in the Littlepace, Castaheany and Ongar areas of Dublin 15 in the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17744/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department's current five-year construction plan is focused on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to accommodate increasing pupil numbers. In that regard, it is also open to schools to submit applications for funding under my Department's additional accommodation scheme to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments and where an additional teacher is being appointed. The relevant application form may be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

In order to meet demographic demand at primary level, new school accommodation has been provided in over 6 schools in the Dublin 15 areas referred to by the Deputy. This additional accommodation together with that in existing primary schools is considered adequate based on current demographic data to meet pupil demands in the area.

In relation to post primary provision in the Dublin 15 areas concerned, an additional 1,000 pupil post primary school has been established in September 2014 to meet demographic demand. My Department considers that the school classroom accommodation being provided by this school together with that in existing post primary schools is adequate to meet the demand in the Dublin 15 areas in question. This may sometimes, however, lead to pupils not being offered a place in their school of first preference.

In addition, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently carrying out a nationwide demographic exercise, including the areas in question, to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation might be needed from 2017 onwards. On foot of this review, arrangements will be made to provide additional post-primary accommodation where this is needed.