Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has assessed the demand for secondary school places in Dublin 7, with particular reference to the new Scribblestown and Pelletstown communities along the Royal Canal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41778/17]

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. The locations referred to by the Deputy are situated close to the border of two school planning areas, Scribblestown/Finglas West school planning area which is currently served by three post-primary schools and Cabra/Phibsboro/D7 school planning area which is currently served by eight 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.

Where 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.

My Department is currently carrying out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed. It is anticipated that decisions based on these exercises will be announced later in 2017.