Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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329. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has plans or explored the possibility of a secondary school in the Togher area of Cork. [37211/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. Togher falls into the Glasheen_Cork City school planning area which is currently served by nine post-primary schools.

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 is currently carrying out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.

Following the completion of the 2017 demographic exercises, additional schools may open. It is anticipated that decisions based on these exercises will be announced later in 2017.