Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review being undertaken by his Department on the demographics for a potential new second level school for south County Kildare based on inclusion as an area that merits further review following the last building programme announcement; the information that is being taken into account in this review; when a decision is likely to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45028/17]

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. 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 at primary and post primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.

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 within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

There are seven school planning areas within the South Kildare area, namely:

- Newbridge

- Kilcullen

- Monasterevin

- Kildare Town

- The Curragh

- Athy

- Castledermot

Following completion of the last demographic exercises, on 17thNovember 2015 the establishment of 4 primary schools and 9 post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018 was announced.  As part of the announcement, it was stated that a range of areas nationwide are experiencing increased demographic pressure and would be kept under ongoing review by my Department. South Kildare was identified as one such area. These demographic exercises showed that, while the school planning areas in South Kildare were experiencing some demographic growth, it was considered that, with the addition of both significant planned and recently delivered infrastructural provision in areas in South Kildare, the existing schools would between them be able to cater for the overall level of demographic demand for post-primary school places.

The Programme of Capital Investment in Schools was announced in November 2015.  St. Conleth’s Community College (Newbridge), Cross & Passion College, Kilcullen, St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin and Athy Community College located in the South Kildare region have projects listed to go to construction over the lifetime of the plan which will provide for a significant number of additional post-primary school places.

As with other school planning areas nationwide, the demographic data for the South Kildare school planning areas is being kept under ongoing review by my Department to take account of updated child benefit data and updated enrolment data.  It is anticipated that decisions based on these exercises will be announced later in 2017.