Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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303. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of secondary school places in the Kinsealy, Malahide and Portmarnock areas of north County Dublin (details supplied); the steps he is taking to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54172/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, 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 and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government last April 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.

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.

While a new post-primary school has not been announced in the Malahide_Nevinstown or Portmarnock school planning areas as part of this announcement, the announcement includes two new 1,000 pupil post-primary schools to serve the Donaghmede_Howth_D13 school planning area, which is adjacent to the Portmarnock school planning area, to be established in 2019 and 2021.

In addition, the following post-primary schools were also established to serve these areas area in recent years as follows:

- 1,000 pupil post-primary school established in 2018 to serve the Malahide_Nevistown and Portmarnock school planning areas as a regional solution; and

- 1,000 pupil post-primary school established in 2018 to serve the Swords school planning area, which is adjacent to the Malahide_Nevinstown and Portmarnock school planning areas.

The requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040. In addition to the new schools announced, my Department's capital investment programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for existing schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified.