Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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777. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has any plans for additional secondary schools in the Sandyford-Stepaside-Dublin 18 area, given the rising population and the lack of schools in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1681/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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.

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.

Following such previous analysis a new 1,000 pupil post primary school, Stepaside ETSS, was established to serve Ballinteer_Stepaside_DLR school planning area in 2016.

While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Dublin 18 area, 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 otherschools in the town/area

- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they arenot available to all pupils

- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area.