Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the right of parents in the Dublin West and south Meath areas to have their children educated through the medium of the Irish language at secondary level. [35877/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given that there are three Gaelscoileanna in the Dublin West and south Meath areas, and given the willingness of 454 students from these areas to enrol in a second level Gaelcholáiste from 2017, her views on the application of a school (details supplied) to be established as a second level school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35878/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.

A submission in relation to the establishment of a second level Gaelcholáiste to serve the Dublin West and South Meath area has been received by my Department.

My Department's five-year construction plan is focused on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child and young person will have access to a physical school place.

My Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed. My Department is in the process of concluding a report on the outcome of an exercise to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation will be needed from 2017 onwards. The demographic exercise encompassed all areas of the country, including the Dublin West and South Meath areas.

I will announce the details of the new post-primary schools to be provided nationwide arising from this exercise shortly. Arrangements will also be made to provide additional post-primary accommodation in existing schools where the demographic demand warrants this.

Having established the requirement for a new post-primary school, my Department assesses the medium of instruction requirement.

My Department runs an open patronage determination process to decide who will operate the schools. It is open to all patrons and prospective patrons to apply under this process.

Details of the criteria for the establishment of new schools is available on my Department's website at