Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

375. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the lack of a co-educational, non-denominational secondary school in the Killester, Raheny and Clontarf school planning area; her plans to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47489/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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, 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 and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

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.

My Department's most recent projections do not indicate significant increases in school place requirements at post-primary level in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning area. Nevertheless, my Department will continue to work to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the area to meet school place demand and will keep the requirements in Killester_Raheny_Clontarf, as with all other school planning areas, under review.

Should it be decided in the future, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required, a patronage process would be conducted to determine the patronage of the school. Parental preferences in relation to patronage and language of instruction (Irish or English) from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity of provision in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of such processes.