Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has satisfied himself that a sufficient number of primary school places are being provided in the Carpenterstown, Clonsilla and Diswellstown areas of Dublin 15; his plans to request his Department to examine population growth in this area following census 2016 and its implication for primary school demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2459/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, 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 the 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.

The areas referred to by the Deputy fall within the Carpenterstown_D15 and Blanchardstown Village_D15 school planning areas.  As with other school planning areas nationwide, the demographic data for the areas referred to by the Deputy will be kept under ongoing review by my Department to take account of updated data.