Written answers

Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Department of Education and Skills

School Places

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a shortage of secondary school places across north County Dublin; and if she has plans to address this issue. [4400/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma 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 and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where increasing school place requirements and associated accommodation needs will arise. 

However, it is important to note that where local enrolment pressures emerge, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department is working with relevant school authorities to establish the extent of enrolment pressures through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities.  In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including those of schools in North Dublin, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.

Where it is determined that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

Extending the capacity of a school or schools, or

Provision of a new school or schools.

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.  The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. It is expected that the enrolment pressures in North Dublin, and in other areas will reduce in the short-term as such planned additional capacity comes on stream and as demographic demand moves past its peak.  In terms of projects, there has been significant investment under the Major Capital Programme in the North Dublin area in recent years. Bremore ET, Balbriggan has a new school building for 1,000 pupils completed in 2018. Coláiste Glor na Mara, also in Balbriggan was completed in 2019 and also has accommodation for 1,000 pupils. In addition there are 13 other major projects at post primary level in the North Dublin area, including at Belmayne, Malahide, Portmarnock, Swords, Dublin 15 and Rush which are at various stages of the design and build process, and will greatly contribute to the supply of school places in the area.

Additionally, 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. 

Included among additional accommodation projects are Dominican College, Drumcondra, Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock and Santa Sabina Dominican College, Sutton. Clonturk Community College has been approved a significant amount of modular accommodation to cater for their needs. St. Aidan’s, Whitehall has also been approved for a significant project, which has been devolved to the school authorities for delivery. My Department is also engaging with school authorities at Castleknock Community College and Luttrelstown Community College in order to consider their accommodation needs.

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