Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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267. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department plans to increase the capacity of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58220/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas, including the Lucan School Planning Area (SPA).

Based on a detailed analysis of demographic trends and ongoing consultation with school patrons, my Department is satisfied that there is a requirement for additional post-primary school provision in this SPA. Accordingly, my Department requested Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB’s (DDLETB) approval, as Patron, to increase the capacity of the school in question to 1,000 students.

This school authority agreed to increase school capacity to 1,000 pupils from September 2021 and officials from my Department continue to engage with the school Patron regarding how best to increase the existing accommodation brief to cater for this enrolment and to identify any interim accommodation needs.