Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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372. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Ukrainian children that have been unable to secure school places in the Fingal area (details supplied); the way that she plans to accommodate these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49485/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I want to assure the Deputy that meeting the educational needs of children and young people from Ukraine is a priority for me as Minister and for the Government. We are determined to support the huge efforts we are seeing from our school communities across the country, who have shown huge commitment and generosity in meeting the needs of all Ukrainian children. Of course, the Deputy will appreciate the scale of the response needed, given that well over 50,000 people have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine since the beginning of this war. By end of September, figures show that over 11,000 children from Ukraine had enrolled in schools in every county across the State. Approximately 7,400 children from Ukraine had enrolled in primary schools, while over 4,300 had enrolled in our post-primary schools. With regard to the area of Fingal in particular, Ukrainian students who are living in the Fingal area of Dublin have so far been accommodated in local schools close to their accommodation. I am advised that the local Regional Education and Language Team (REALT) co-ordinator has engaged with families in the area. My Department carried out surveys at Primary and Post Primary level to identify potential capacity. My Department has incorporated this information with other information in the Geographical Information System (GIS) system to enable quick identification of potential capacity through the Community Analyst reporting system. This includes the Fingal area. Our understanding is that there is sufficient capacity in the surrounding schools and neighbouring schools within a reasonable travel distance. The impact analysis from the GIS system sets out the available capacity as well as information on distance, school planning area, current school enrolment information, number of Ukrainian students enrolled etc. Each REALT team has access to this tool. This reflects their key role in assisting children in finding school places and in supporting schools in their area to meet the needs of these children as they emerge. This reporting tool enables the REALT co-ordinator to quickly assess the impact of the arrival of a large number of Ukrainian children on school capacity in a particular area. They are then able to work to ensure that existing accommodation capacity within all local schools can be leveraged to the greatest extent possible.