Written answers
Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Department of Education and Skills
Schools Data
Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated number of children who will be in sixth class over the next number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52031/18]
Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Information on projected enrolments in 6th class (mainstream classes only) for the years 2018 - 2023 is available in the table below. It can be seen that 6th class enrolments are due to rise by more than 8,000 pupils between the latest actual figures available - 63,037 in 2017/2018 - and the peak in 2020/2021 (71,466) before beginning to reduce as the demographic peak moves through the education system.
| Academic Year | 6th Class Pupils |
|---|---|
| 2017/2018 (actual) | 63,037 |
| 2018/2019 | 67,055 |
| 2019/2020 | 70,070 |
| 2020/2021 | 71,466 |
| 2021/2022 | 71,032 |
| 2022/2023 | 71,042 |
| 2023/2024 | 68,311 |
Ireland's particular demographic make-up, with peaks in births in 1980 (74,064) and again 30 years later in 2009 (75,554), and a low point in 1994 with just 48,255 births, has led to large fluctuations in demand across all sectors of education from primary to post-primary to third level and these fluctuations are reflected in projected enrolments.
More detailed information on projections can be found in the full projections report available on the Department's website:
www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/projections-of-full-time-enrolment-primary-and-second-level-2018-2036.pdf.
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