Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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394. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will permit a proposed new primary school (details supplied) to enrol senior infants from September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33444/21]

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.  Donaghmede_Howth_D13 is one of the school planning areas. 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.

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.

Since 2018, 47 new schools to cater for demographic demand have been announced to be established over the period 2019-2022 and included in that number are two new primary schools in Donaghmede_Howth_D13. Stapolin Educate Together NS opened in September 2019 and Gaelscoil Ghrainne Mhaol will be established in September 2021.

New schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and, as outlined above, only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.  Furthermore, such new schools are required to build their enrolments incrementally, with an intake of Junior Infants or First Years each year.  This is designed to allow the new school’s enrolment capacity to increase in tandem with emerging demographic demand and in order to mitigate any impact on the enrolments at other schools in the area. 

On this basis, Gaelscoil Ghrainne Mhaol will be established with a Junior Infant intake only in 2021.