Written answers

Wednesday, 22 May 2019

Department of Education and Skills

School Patronage

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Educate Together has been recently approved to provide primary school education in the Killester, Raheny and Clontarf areas; the location the interim accommodation will be provided; if he is satisfied that the accommodation is in a central location; if he is further satisfied that enough places are being provided to satisfy the demand for this type of education in this catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22183/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 8 classroom primary school to be established in September 2019 to serve the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning area. This announcement follows 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.

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.  The patronage process for the school referred to by the Deputy is complete and patronage has been awarded to Educate Together.

My Department’s priority is ensuring all pupils have access to a school place which may not always result in a school place that is their first choice. A range of factors including parental choice, school location and commuting patterns can contribute to oversubscription of certain schools within an area.

My Department appointed a Project Manager in July 2018 to assist with the work of prioritising the procurement of interim accommodation for 17 new schools due to be established in September 2019 which includes the school to serve the area to which the Deputy refers.  

Numerous locations within the school planning area were considered in relation to the interim accommodation for the school but could not be secured due to lack of suitability, availability or prohibitive zoning issues.

Therefore, in order to ensure that the school could open in September 2019 as announced it was necessary to look for interim accommodation in adjoining school planning areas.  On 15 March 2019 a planning application was submitted to Fingal County Council for a location at Suttonians Rugby Club, John McDowell Memorial Grounds, Station Road, Sutton, Dublin 13, D13 AH97.  The notification of decision to grant planning permission was issued by the local authority on 2nd May, 2019, Final Grant is awaited.

The new primary school will open in September 2019 in suitable interim accommodation pending delivery of its permanent building. 

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