Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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311. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if provision will be made for a new primary school at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9977/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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For planning purposes the area referred to by the Deputy is located in the Department’s Finglas East/Ballymun Dublin 11 school planning area.  There are currently 9 primary schools serving this area.  

My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places will arise. The GIS uses data from a range of sources including my Department’s own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed. 

The outcome of the latest demographic analyses was the announcement of 13 new schools, four primary and nine post-primary, to open in 2017 and 2018.  It was also stated that a range of areas nationwide are experiencing increased demographic pressure and will be kept under review by my Department.  North West Dublin City, which includes the area referred to by the Deputy, is one of these areas.  This review will take account of updated enrolment and child benefit data and also of the impact of planned capacity increases in this and adjoining areas. 

The outcome of this review of demographic changes and school capacity in the school planning area will determine the means by which any additional school places required will be met.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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312. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 21 February 2017, the primary school in the Swords area which is currently undersubscribed. [10004/17]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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313. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 21 February 2017, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) has stated to parents that it is not in a position to prioritise children from outside of the catchment area for school places in 2017. [10055/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the school referred to in PQ 10055/17 is the primary school which my Department understands is currently undersubscribed.

The school in question confirmed that it had offered junior infant places, prioritising children from within the schools catchment area. The school also confirmed that following receipt of responses from parents, the school will be in a position to determine the number of additional places that can then be offered to pupils outside the school’s catchment area, within the Swords area.

My Department is liaising with the school in question and will continue to monitor the pupil enrolment position closely in the Swords area.