Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38559/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, my Department’s 2020 Statistical Report “Projections of full-time enrolment, Primary and Second Level, 2020-2038” sets out projected future enrolments at a national level. Overall, primary enrolments are projected to have peaked in 2018 and are currently on a downward trend. Post-primary enrolments are projected to peak in 2024.

However, school place demand at a more local level can be at variance from national trends. Therefore, 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.

Recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that some 79% of the 314 school planning areas have stable or decreasing projected enrolments at primary level for the period to 2025, whereas some 88% of the school planning areas are anticipated to have increased enrolments at post-primary level for the period to 2028.

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.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan 2018-2027 provides a capital envelope of €8.4m to facilitate strong rollout of projects under the Schools Building Programme.

My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme to cater for current and future educational demands. The pipeline of projects is kept under continual review to ensure alignment with Project Ireland 2040 objectives and the funding provided under the National Development Plan during the period 2018 to 2027 for the schools sector is key enabler for their successful delivery.

During the NDP period 2018 to 2020, 526 school building projects were completed under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places, which included permanent accommodation for 229 special classes and additional capacity for 67 classrooms in 14 special schools throughout the country. My Department has a significant existing pipeline of projects to be delivered over the coming years to meet capacity needs managed under the Large-Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). This includes circa 1,200 school building projects across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction

Good progress continues to be made with the rollout of projects, and the current status of projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on the Department’s website at www.education.ie and updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.