Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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489. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are instances around Ireland in which land has been zoned for schools for which the need exists but building has not yet begun; the number and locations of such sites in tabular form; when building of the schools will commence; the reason for the delays in building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36471/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The context within which zoning of sites for schools takes place is the  20-year “National Planning Framework 2040”. Within this framework the statutory land planning process operates on a number of levels: national, regional , county/city and local.  There are some 200 statutory plans between regional, county and local area plans.  These plans are produced on an ongoing basis following a transparent public process.  The Department of Education engages with the statutory plan preparation process to ensure that sufficient suitable sites are reserved to meet potential future school requirements in all areas. All of the plans are publicly available on the websites of the various planning authorities.

In regard to establishment of new schools, the Department continuously monitors projected demand for school places in all areas across the country, using data from a range of sources. As part of the planning process, the Department consults with local authorities concerning residential developments being progressed or in the pipeline.  This is to ensure that schools infrastructure planning aligns with the demographic changes arising from new residential development.  Since 2018 a total of 47 new schools have been announced to open in the period 2019-2022. 

In the case of each new school, the Department analyses the best option for the provision of the school, in terms of whether an existing property already in State ownership could be used or whether the new school necessitates the acquisition of a new greenfield site.  If a new site is identified as the best option, suitably zoned sites in the area are considered and the designation of a site for school use is typically very helpful.  However, in instances where the site has been zoned to meet the potential need of a future community it may be the case that the required infrastructure and services are not yet in place and the development of that site to meet a current school need may be premature.   Nevertheless, all identified site options are fully considered with a view to ensuring the provision of suitable accommodation for the school in question.   

 When  the school is required to open before the  site is acquired, my Department co-ordinates arrangements for suitable interim accommodation to enable the school to open while the site acquisition and the planning process concludes.