Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for a second-level school at a location (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the concern of the local community in respect of this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34270/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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. Citywest is located in the Tallaght school planning 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.

Following such an analysis, a new post primary school (Coláiste Pobail Fóla) was established to serve the Tallaght & Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas as a regional solution in 2020.

In relation to this school, the final Notification to Grant Planning Permission was received in March 2021 from South Dublin County Council and the school building project is currently at tender preparation stage. It is intended that the project will be tendered in Quarter 4 2021.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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324. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has received the report of a group (details supplied); the action taken by her Department on foot of the report; if she plans to take any additional action ahead of the new school year in view of the report’s findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34291/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has received a copy of the report to which the Deputy refers. It is an analysis of historic population and enrolment trends for the period 2011-2020 in the East Cork area. The area in question is primarily the Midleton_Carrigtwohill school planning area, though part of the Youghal school planning area is also considered.

As the Deputy may be aware, a new primary school and a new post primary school have both been established in Midleton_Carrigtwohill in that period to meet the school needs arising from that population growth: Scoil Cliodhna CNS which was established in 2015 and Carrigtwohill Community College which was established in 2016.

In addition increased capacity is being provided in St Aloysius College, St. Mary High School, St. Colman’s Community College and in Pobalscoil na Tríonóide to meet September 2021 requirements as well as long-term projected enrolments in the east Cork area.

While the referenced report details historic information, the Deputy will appreciate that the provision of additional school accommodation is predicated on the projection of school place requirements based on current and future demographic trends. My Department uses up to date data from a range of sources including enrolments, Child Benefit data, information on residential development activity and National Planning Framework population targets in order to anticipate school place needs. The most current analysis does not indicate a requirement for additional school accommodation provision in the Midleton_Carrigtwohill or Youghal school planning areas above that which is currently being planned and delivered. Nevertheless, school place requirements will continue to be kept under review.