Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the patronage process for the new second level school in the Drumcondra, Marino and Dublin 1 areas; if access to a non-denominational second level school for the Cabra, Phibsborough and Dublin 7 areas will be provided in view of the increasing population in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47037/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in April this year the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school for the Drumcondra-Marino-Dublin 1 and Cabra- Phibsboro-D7 school planning areas, the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased roll-out of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.

A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.