Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

356. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new multidenominational and or non-denominational schools that have been established since 2012; the year they began taking in students; if they are in permanent or temporary accommodation; the patron of each; and if their buildings were transferred from another patron. [34876/17]

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

My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.  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 to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.

To date, 23 new multi-denominational primary schools have opened since 2012 in areas of demographic demand. The details requested by the Deputy are provided in the attached table.

In addition, 10 new primary schools have opened since 2013 under the patronage divesting process in areas of stable population as follows:

In 2014, four new schools commenced operation under the patronage of Educate Together in:

- Trim, Co. Meath;

- Tramore, Co. Waterford;

- Malahide/Portmarnock, Co. Dublin; and

- Newtownwhite, Co. Mayo. 

The latter resulted from the transfer of patronage from the Church of Ireland. 

In addition, an Educate Together school that opened in September 2013 moved to a former Edmund Rice School building in Dublin 8 in September 2014. 

In 2015, three new schools commenced operation, two under the patronage of Educate Together in:

- Tuam, Co. Galway; and

- New Ross, Co. Wexford

and one under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta in:

- Birr, Co. Offaly

In 2016, two new schools opened under the patronage of Educate Together in:

- Greenhills, Dublin 12; and 

- Castlebar, Co. Mayo. 

NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR DEMOGRAPHICS