Written answers

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Department of Education and Skills

School Patronage

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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295. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-denominational schools in Dublin 5; the number of students applying and accepted to non-denominational schools in Dublin 5; his plans to increase the provision of non-denominational schools in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5196/20]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe 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. In April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the four year period 2019 to 2022.

For school planning purposes, the Dublin 5 area primarily comprises the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf and Beaumont_Coolock_D5 school planning areas. There are currently two multi-denominational primary schools in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning area, including a new primary school to serve the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning area established in 2019 and two multi-denominational post-primary schools in the Beaumont_Coolock_D5 school planning area.

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.

A school's enrolment policy, and the number of applications for enrolment, is a matter for each individual school management. This information is not held within my Department.

The requirement for new schools will be kept under review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.

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