Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the school and classroom planning in Dublin Fingal, given the preliminary census data showing a significant population growth since 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34865/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

While my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in Fingal, Dublin, 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 Fingal, 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.

A number of major projects for primary and post primary schools in the Fingal area are at various stages of the design and build process and these projects, when completed, will cater for the demand for school places in the area, including:

Primary Schools:

Broadmeadow CNS, Swords, RN20529J - New School Building -8 Classroom + 2 classroom SEN Base. The project  is at stage 1 of the architectural planning process.

Rivervalley CNS, Swords, RN20528H - New School Building - 8 Classroom + 2 classroom SEN Base. The project is at site acquisition/project brief stage 

Post Primary Schools

Loreto College Swords, RN60810B. An extension project has been initiated to provide capacity for 1,000 pupils + 4 classroom SEN Base. The project is at pre-stage 1.

Swords Community College, RN76475D. A new school building providing capacity for 1,000 pupils + 4 classroom SEN Base  was completed in 2020.

St Finian's Community College, RN70120F. An extension project is in train which will provide capacity for 1,000 pupils + 2 classroom SEN Base when completed. The  project is currently at stage 2b.

Balbriggan Community College, RN70010V. An extension project is in train which will provide capacity for 1,000 pupils + 2 classroom SEN Base when completed. The  project is currently at stage 2b.

St Joseph's Rush, RN60343T. A project for a new school building which will  provide capacity for 1,000 pupil + 4 classroom SEN Base has been initiated. The project is currently at stage 1.

Malahide Portmarnock RN68308L- New School Building to provide capacity for 1,000 pupils + 4 classroom SEN Base. The  project is currently on site and close to completion.

Portmarnock Community School RN91324P - New Building will provide capacity for 1,000 pupils + 2 classroom SEN Base. The  project is currently at Stage 2a.

Skerries Community College, RN76078Q - An extension is in train, which when completed, will provide capacity for 1,300 pupils + 4 classroom SEN Base. The  project is currently at pre-stage 1.

In addition, the following projects have been approved under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme and have been devolved to the school authorities for delivery: 

- SN Cholmcille's BNS Swords, RN: 18976W - 2  Classroom SEN Class Base and 4 x 15m² resource rooms

- Holywell ETNS Swords, RN: 20348F - 1  Classroom SEN  

My Department will continue to review primary and post-primary needs in the Fingal area.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

38. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the information that the preliminary census results provide in relation to planning for primary and secondary education for the years ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34835/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the latest DoE published primary and post-primary schools enrolments projections (www.gov.ie/en/collection/projections/ ), the CSO population projections (based on 2016 Census data) were used. In order to derive future schools enrolments, the new CSO population projections (based on 2022 Census results) are needed. The new population projections are not compiled yet. As soon as CSO population projections are available, DoE will update the schools’ enrolment projections model in order to reflect the recent population trends.