Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1044. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if every applicant for secondary school in Newbridge, Kildare and the surrounding rural areas has obtained a school place for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30578/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country including South Kildare.

However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, 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 to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities/patrons. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with school patron bodies/school authorities to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

There is a number of building projects planned for the South Kildare area:

- Curragh Post-Primary School - Following an extensive site identification, assessment and negotiation process, agreement in principle, subject to contract, has been reached for the acquisition, by the Department of Education, of a permanent school site in Kildare Town to provide a replacement school for the Curragh Post Primary School. This site will accommodate 1,000 pupils and will include a 4 classroom special education needs unit. The new school will cater for the increased demographic growth at post-primary level due to occur in the Kildare South region over the coming years, the majority of which is projected to occur in Kildare Town. The location of this 8 acre greenfield site is next to two existing primary schools, Kildare Town Educate Together National School and Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha, within the grounds of the former Magee Barracks, Kildare Town. The development of the post primary school on this site will enhance the education facilities available to the Curragh Post Primary School and the existing primary schools in a new educational campus arrangement. Due to commercial sensitivities, it is not possible to provide further information at this time.

- Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen - project at stage 2a (Developed Sketch Scheme). This project will provide for an extension to expand the school to cater for 1,000 pupils.

- Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge - project at stage 2a (Developed Sketch Scheme). This project will provide for an expansion of the school to cater for 1,000 pupils.

- Ardscoil Rathangan - Additional School Accommodation (ASA) project approved for this school to allow for the school to expand to 750 pupils.

- St. Conleth’s Community College, Newbridge - Plans to expand this school being discussed with the patron Kildare Wicklow ETB.

- St. Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin - project on site to provide a replacement new school to cater for 850 pupils.

- Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge (application received and currently under assessment)

My Department is aware that there are currently places available in St. Conleth's Post-Primary School in Newbridge for the 2022/23 school year. My Department's engagement with Patrons/school authorities is ongoing and is focused on ensuring that the start of the 2022/23 school year operates as smoothly as possible for all schools and their students. The Department is satisfied that with the additional places proposed with these building projects that the projected enrolments for South Kildare can be catered for within the existing schools in the school planning areas of South Kildare.