Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of demand for junior school places in Swords, County Dublin (details supplied); if he is satisfied that a strategy is in place that will cater for the demand and enrolment needs for the 2018-19 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22396/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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There are a total of 11 schools enrolling junior infant classes serving the Swords area, comprising 8 Catholic schools, one Gaelscoil, one Educate Together school and one Church of Ireland school.

My Department is aware of the pressure on school places in recent years in the Swords school planning area. In that regard, my Department is monitoring the expected enrolment position in the school planning area with the aim of ensuring that there is adequate accommodation to cater for the demand for places for the 2018/19 school year.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022) including two new primary schools to serve the Swords (North and South) school planning areas.

This announcement follows a nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the four-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

It is proposed to establish the two new schools for Swords in September 2019.