Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans in place to build new secondary schools in Dublin 5, Dublin 13 and Dublin 17, or to expand capacity of existing schools in the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46590/22]

Norma 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, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. The areas of Dublin 5, 13 and 17 are managed under the following school planning areas:

- Dublin 5 – Beaumont_Coolock SPA and Killester_Raheny_Clontarf SPA;

- Dublin 13 – Portmarnock SPA and Donaghmede_Howth_D13 SPA;

- Dublin 17 – Darndale_D17 SPA, Portmarnock SPA, Beaumont_Coolock SPA, Donaghmede_Howth SPA and Malahinde_Nevinstown SPA.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each local authority to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. My Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within the particular area and its ability to meet 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.

The following building projects in post primary schools in the Dublin 5,13,17 areas will provide additional capacity and are at various stages of architectural planning:

- Ellenfield Community College RN 70321 (formerly known as Margaret Aylward Community College) - Major Project to deliver 1,000 pupil school + 4 SEN Base - currently at Project Brief Stage.

- St Paul's College RN 60290B - Additional Accommodation which includes 2 SEN Classrooms, Specialist rooms which includes Construction, Music, Art , Home Economic Rooms + Prep Rooms - currently at Project Stage 1.

- Ard Scoil La Salle RN 60291D - Additional Accommodation which includes 2 SEN Classrooms + 1 Music Room - currently at Project Stage 1.

- Mount Temple Comprehensive School RN 81002K - Major project to deliver 1,000 pupil school - currently at Project Stage 2b.

- St Mary's Secondary School RN 60021U - Refurbishment of existing accommodation to provide Home Economics Room and additional toilets- currently at project Stage 4

- Santa Sabina RN 60380C - Project to provide 4 classrooms, 2 DCG Rooms, 4 SET Rooms, 1 Science Lab + Prep Area, 2 Technology rooms + Prep Area, 2 Classroom SEN Base - currently at Project Stage 1

- Belmayne ETSS RN 68346T - Project to deliver 1,000 pupil school - currently at Project Stage 4-

- Gaelscoil Reachrann RN 76085N - Project to deliver 600 pupil school - currently at Project Stage 3

- Grange Community College RN 70020B - Project to deliver 1,000 pupil school - currently at Project Brief Stage.

My Department is satisfied that capacity demand in 2022 and beyond can be accommodated by the existing post primary schools.

My Department will keep the pace of delivery of additional residential development in the school planning areas, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data under review. This will inform any future decisions regarding school capacity in the area.