John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

209. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage his plans are at for a post-primary school for the Citywest and Saggart areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34490/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 analyses to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

For school planning purposes, Citywest falls within the Tallaght school planning area. There are currently six post-primary schools in this area serving the 20 primary schools. Among the six post-primary schools is a new school which opened in September 2016 in the Kingswood area of Tallaght. This is a multi-denominational school under the patronage of Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board and when fully developed it will provide 1,000 student places.

With regard to the Saggart area, for school planning purposes this falls within the Rathcoole/Saggart school planning area. There is currently one post-primary school in this area serving the four primary schools. A building project for the post-primary school is included on my Department's Six Year Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021 and is listed to proceed to construction during 2016.

Among the new schools announced to open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs, is a new post-primary school under the patronage of Educate Together which will open in 2018 in the Firhouse/Oldbawn school planning area, which is adjacent to the Tallaght school planning area. When fully developed, this school will provide 1,000 pupil places, supplementing provision in the greater area.

As with all school planning areas nationwide, the demographic data for the Tallaght and Rathcoole/Saggart school planning areas is being kept under review by my Department to take account of updated enrolment data and capacity increases in these and adjoining school planning areas.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

210. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34504/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware the building project for the new post primary school to serve Malahide/Portmarnock is included in the 6 year construction programme that was announced last November and is listed to go to construction in 2019-21.

Officials in my Department are liaising with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable location for the school.

The technical feasibility of an identified site option is currently being comprehensively assessed by officials from my Department in liaison with officials from the Council.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for this proposed school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34505/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, the building project for the new post primary school to serve Swords is included in the 6 year construction programme that was announced last November and is listed to go to construction in 2019-21.

Officials in my Department have worked closely with officials in Fingal County Council in respect of the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for this project. Conveyancing is currently under way in respect of a site identified for the school.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am unfortunately not in a position to provide further details regarding the permanent location at this time. However, the patron of the school, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB, will be informed of the location as soon as it is possible to do so.