Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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375. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a new gaelscoil for primary school pupils will be provided in the Killester, Raheny, and Clontarf school planning area due to increasing demand for this type of education in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49506/22]

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 2022 demographic exercise indicates that 85% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show static or decreasing enrolments for the period to 2026 compared with 2021. At post-primary level some 74% of school planning areas are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2029, with most expected to reach a peak within the next two or three years.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,- Provision of a new school or schools.

There are two Gaelscoileanna in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning Area and the most recent demographic projections indicate a slight reduction in enrolments at primary level in this School Planning Area (SPA).

As part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the announcements since April 2018 on the establishment of 47 new schools from 2019, which affords particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge as part of the patronage process for new schools. Of these 47 new schools, one new primary school to serve the Killester/Raheny/Clontarf school planning area was announced.

This school was established in 2019 under the patronage of Educate Together following a patronage process which gave an opportunity for parents to express a preference for Irish-medium. At the time the level of parental preferences for Irish-medium instruction was relatively low with 61 of 373 valid first preferences (16.4%) compared with 279 of 373 valid first preferences (74.8%) for English-medium instruction.

I wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for additional school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity. The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the school planning area of Killester_Raheny_Clontarf.