Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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1077. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in sanctioning a new primary school in Santry, Dublin 9 given the 3,600 new dwellings in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20519/21]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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1078. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in sanctioning a new secondary school in Santry, Dublin 9 given the 3,600 new dwellings in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20520/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1077 and 1078 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, 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, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. Santry is located in the Whitehall_SantryD9 school planning area.

The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 60% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level have stable or decreasing projected enrolments for the period to 2024, whereas some 90% of the school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2027.

The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision.

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.

The most recent projections for Whitehall_SantryD9 school planning area indicate increased requirements at primary and post primary levels. My Department is currently working to examine the capacity of the schools in the area to meet this projected demand.