Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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970. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence regarding a non-denominational school in the Dublin Bay North area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21853/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As the Deputy may be aware, in February of this year, I announced that 7 new primary schools will be opening in 2015 and 2016 to meet demographic demands. This announcement included a new school for the Drumcondra Marino area, which is within the Dublin Bay North area, although not specifically the area referred to by the Deputy. A patronage determination process is expected to take place before the end of this year to establish who will be awarded patronage of this school, and any applicant patron must show evidence of parental demand from within the area for the school type they propose. It will be open to all patrons to apply to run this school, including patrons proposing a non-denominational ethos.

My Department currently has no plans to open an additional primary school in the postcode area referred to by the Deputy as there is no current demographic requirement. It should be noted that my Department continues to review demographic data on an ongoing basis to determine where new primary schools will be needed from 2016 onwards. All areas, including the area referred to by the Deputy, are included in this review. Increase in the birth rate since the early 2000s has caused a population boom and this is putting major pressure on school accommodation. For this reason the Department's capital budget for building new schools has to prioritise meeting demographic need in order to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place.