Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department's map relates to Finglas and Scribblestown but not Pelletstown in respect of the proposed new school for Pelletstown, Dublin 7; the reason a new school would be located in Pelletstown, when there is already a new school there and that location would not be accessible to children in the Finglas north and south areas; the origins of this proposal in view of the fact that schools in these areas have spare capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10601/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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On 17 November 2015 the establishment of three new primary schools in 2017 and one new primary school in 2018 was announced by my Department. The new primary school for Pelletstown, Dublin 7 (also known as Scribblestown or Ashtown) was part of this announcement. 

In relation to the demographic analyses, my Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and 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 requirement for this new school arose from such demographic analyses conducted by my Department.

It was determined that a new primary school was required to meet the level of anticipated future demand in the area. While the proposed new school will cater for children living in the Scribblestown/Finglas West school planning area, given the emerging population pattern combined with recent and imminent new residential developments in the wider area, it is intended to locate the school within or close to the general Pelletstown area, which is located adjacent to the boundary of Scribblestown/Finglas West school planning area.