Written answers

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Education Policy

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the provision of increased mixed sex primary school places in the Dublin 9 and 11 areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59022/21]

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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367. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is giving consideration to the provision of increased mixed sex primary school places in the Dublin 9 and 11 areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59085/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 367 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department.

New schools are established by my Department to meet demographic need and, generally, such new school provision (primary and post-primary) is mixed gender in nature. Co-educational schools provide greater flexibility than single sex schools in terms of meeting demographic and school accommodation requirements in an area. Single-gender provision may, however, be made if there is an identified imbalance between the capacities of single-gender schools in the area.

Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. It is expected that the enrolment pressures in the school planning areas within Dublin 9 and 11, and other areas will reduce in the short-term as such planned additional capacity comes on stream and as demographic demand moves past its peak.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an additional enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme (the Additional Accommodation Scheme) can be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly.

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