Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the existing pattern of children entering or leaving the Drumcondra school catchment area for secondary schooling. [53763/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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For the academic year 2019-20, there were 559 sixth class primary pupils in the school planning area of Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin 1. Of these, 262 left the school planning area to attend post-primary in neighbouring school planning areas for the 2020-21 academic year. The remaining 297 pupils stayed in the school planning area to attend first year of post-primary. An additional 350 pupils attended first-year post-primary in Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin 1 coming from a different school planning area. This results in a total of 647 pupils in Drumcondra and Marino for first-year 2020-21.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the CSO has provided her Department with a projection of population for the Drumcondra school catchment area over the next five years. [53764/21]

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. My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office and also, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection (Child Benefit information) and my Department's own databases (school enrolment data). Major new residential developments in a school planning area can also 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.

With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises annually, at primary and post primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed. Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, 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 is satisfied that current demand in the Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin 1 school planning area can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in this area. The pace of delivery of additional residential development in this school planning area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements.