Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the establishment of a secondary school in Inishbofin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34281/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established, by my Department, on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.

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 the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.  In accordance with measures in place nationally since 2011,most new post-primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600 – 1,000 students.  A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Aonad within a school.

There is currently one primary school on Inishbofin with a total enrolment of 14 pupils for the 2021/22 academic year (provisional data).   

In relation to the post-primary situation, pupils resident on off shore islands that do not have a school providing suitable free second level education may qualify for assistance under the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme.  The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged, because of their remoteness from schools, the opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged. 

The terms of this scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on my Department’s website at www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0016_2016.pdf.

The Department of Education will continue to be represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee for the Development of the Islands led by the Department of Rural and Community Development. A strategy was agreed between the Departments to draft a new national islands policy for the islands and their development.

The policy development has a number of strands. Firstly, there was a consultation phase of public meetings undertaken with island communities, establishing what are the issues impacting on the viability of their communities. Secondly, there were a series of bilateral meetings informing Departments and other stakeholders of the findings of the consultations and asking for Departments and stakeholders to consider their response to the challenges identified. The policy document is gradually being developed.

At the most recent meeting of the Inter-Departmental Committee it was decided that each Department would work on identifying actions to be included in an action plan that would be published in conjunction with the islands policy.  This Committee is a whole of Government approach to assessing the socio-economic and structural needs of island communities which would include education provision.