Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on secondary school site identifications for Swords, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34866/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose.  Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand. 

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may 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.

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. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including patrons of schools in Swords, Dublin to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

The Swords School Planning Area is served by 5 post primary schools:

- Coláiste Choilm Swords, RN 60383I, an all boys' secondary school which had an enrolment of 621 pupils in the 2021/2022 school year.

- Fingal Community College, RN 70121H, a co-educational school which had an enrolment of 875 pupils in the 2021/2022 school year.

- Loreto College Swords, RN 60810B, an all girls' secondary school which had an enrolment of 621 pupils in the 2021/2022 school year. A major extension to expand this school to provide capacity for 1,000 pupils + 4 classes for pupils with special education needs has been initiated. This project is currently at stage 1 of the architectural planning process. In addition, 4 temporary general classrooms were approved for the 2021/2022 academic year to cater for immediate accommodation needs at the school.

- St Finian's Community College Swords, RN 70121H, a  co-educational school which had an enrolment of 642 pupils in the 2021/2022 school year.  A major project has been initiated which will provide capacity for 1,000 pupils and 2  classes for pupils with special education needs. This project is currently at stage 2b of the architectural planning process.

- Swords Community College , RN76475D, a co-educational school was established in 2018/2019 and had an enrolment of 579 pupils in the 2021/2022 school year The school's new building has capacity for 1,000 pupils + 4 special classes for pupils with special educational needs.

School place requirements nationally, including in Swords , County Dublin for both primary and post primary level will continue to be kept under on-going review.