Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the position regarding the future of school placements in Swords in view of the growing population; the construction work scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6976/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans for persons who are currently on the school list but cannot get a placement in Swords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6977/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is monitoring the pupil enrolment position in the area in question, together with all areas nationally, to take account of updated demographic data.  In that regard, my Department is aware of the demand for junior infant places in the area referred to and is liaising directly with the relevant schools.

As the Deputy may be aware, there are 13 primary schools serving the Swords area, five of which have had new state-of-the-art buildings provided since 2008.  Two of the primary schools are included in the current capital programme and a number of the other schools have undertaken smaller extensions via my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme.

At post primary level, a new school is due to be established in September 2017, bringing to five the number of post primary schools serving the area. Two of the existing post primary schools will be extended as part of the current capital programme.