Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide a secondary school for the Pelletstown area of Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9885/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

The outcome of the latest demographic exercises was that in November 2015, it was announced that four new primary schools and nine new post-primary schools will open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs. This includes a new post-primary school which will open in 2017 to serve the Carpenterstown and Castleknock, Dublin 15 areas, which is adjacent to the school planning area in which Pelletstown is located.

In this regard, my Department recently issued an invitation to all school patron bodies and prospective patron bodies to apply for the patronage of the nine new post-primary schools, including the school to serve Carpenterstown and Castleknock. Details can be found on my Department of Education & Skills website at www.education.ie.The closing date for receipt of applications to my Department is Wednesday 8th June.