Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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293. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to build new primary schools in the Dublin 13 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9824/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Department of Social Protection, in addition to my Department’s own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic analyses at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.

Following such nationwide demographic analyses, three new primary schools and eight new post-primary schools opened in September 2016 and four new primary schools and nine new post-primary schools will open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for areas experiencing significantly increased demographic growth.  

A range of areas nationwide, including the Dublin 13 area, are experiencing increased demographic pressure and are being kept under ongoing review by my Department. This review takes account of updated enrolment data and child benefit data and also the impact of existing and planned capacity increases to schools in these, and adjacent school planning areas.

Where the demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

-Utilising existing unused capacity with a school or schools,

-Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

-Provision of a new school or schools.