Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that she is taking to address the lack of mixed primary schools in the Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 areas in view of the significant over-subscription of applicants for the 2023 junior infant intake in all existing mixed schools in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59387/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department.

New schools are established by my Department to meet demographic need and, generally, such new school provision (primary and post-primary) is mixed gender in nature. Co-educational schools provide greater flexibility than single sex schools in terms of meeting demographic and school accommodation requirements in an area. Single-gender provision may, however, be made if there is an identified imbalance between the capacities of single-gender schools in the area.

Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. There are currently 10 school building projects at primary schools in the Whitehall_SantryD9 and FinglasEast_BallymunD11 school planning areas.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 may be viewed on my Department's website at, gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an additional enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme (the Additional Accommodation Scheme) can be found on my Department's website at gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly.

While my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in areas including Dublin 9 and Dublin 11, 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's priority is to ensure that there are sufficient places across schools in an area, to meet the needs of local pupils. Officials are working to identify any areas which require additional accommodation provision, beyond which is already in in train, to make required school places available. As was done in planning for previous years, my Department is engaging with school patrons as part of this process.