Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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406. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how a newly built school (details supplied) is already deemed too small before it even opens and cannot absorb students from its community; and if she can confirm, of those students offered places starting in September 2023, the number who are permanent residents within Dublin 6W. [8376/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware capital funding was approved in 2019 for the school in question, to provide 4 mainstream classrooms and one Special Education Teaching Room. This project is currently devolved to the school authority for delivery.

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.

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any 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.

While the Department do not have information in relation to the specifics of who has been offered places at the school in question for Sept 2023 my Department has established a number of new schools in recent years which are delivering good capacity in south Dublin City:

- Harold’s Cross ETNS – 16-classroom school – established in 2019 as a regional solution for Dublin 6 Clonskeagh and Dublin 6 West school planning areas. The school currently has a staffing of Principal plus 3 mainstream class teacher plus 2 classes for children with special educational needs

- Gaelscoil Eoin – established in 2021 to cater for Dublin 2_Dublin 4 school planning area– this will ultimately be an 8-classroom school. The school currently has a staffing of Principal plus 1 mainstream class teacher

- Harcourt Terrace ETNS – established in 2018 as a regional solution for Dublin South City Centre (Dublin 2, 4 & 6) will ultimately be a 24-classroom school. The school currently has a staffing of Principal plus 4 mainstream class teachers plus 2 classes for children with special educational needs

- Shellybanks ETNS – established in 2014 as a regional solution for Dublin South City Centre (Dublin 2, 4, 6 & 8) will ultimately be a 24-classroom school – the school has a current staffing of Principal plus fifteen mainstream class teachers plus 2 classes for children with special educational needs

My Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects for Dublin 6 Clonskeagh and Dublin 6 West school planning areas to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements, both for the coming academic year and into the future. My officials will continue to monitor enrolment trends, population growth, and residential development in the city and to keep school place requirements under review. In particular, the impact on school place demand of new arrivals, including Ukrainian students, will inform my Department’s assessment of school accommodation needs. Additionally there will be continued engagement with patrons and school authorities with a view to identifying at an early stage any particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.