Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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382. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will consider carrying out a feasibility study for a new secondary school in an area (details supplied) that would take into account the growing population and series of new housing developments in the area. [39700/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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, utilising data from a range of sources including information on planned and current residential development, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. Laragh, Roundwood and Moneystown are situated in the Rathdrum school planning area.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each local authority to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. My Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within the particular area and its ability to meet increased demand.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may 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.

As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018 the Government has announced plans for the establishment of 47 new schools over the four years 2019 to 2022 including two new post-primary schools to serve Wicklow:

- a new post-primary school established in 2019 to serve the Wicklow school planning area; and

- a new post-primary school established in 2020 to serve the Kilcoole & Greystones school planning areas as a regional solution.

The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review and work on an updated exercise to assess needs for the coming years, including those which may arise in the Rathdrum school planning area, is at an advanced stage.

In addition to ongoing demographic analyses, my Department continues to liaise with Wicklow County Council in respect of potential longer-term requirements for educational provision in all areas of Wicklow. My Department engages further on such matters with the Council through the review of the County Development Plan, preparation of Local Area Plans and other relevant statutory planning processes.