Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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653. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking in relation to a shortage of spaces in secondary schools in Clonakilty, County Cork. [12772/23]

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.

My Department's projections of post primary school place requirements in Clonakilty show some continued growth in overall enrolments in the short term. However, despite projected overall growth, first year place requirements are anticipated to remain generally stable, or to decline slightly.

In response to enrolment pressures in the area, there has been significant capital investment into the post-primary schools in Clonakilty. An extension for Clonakilty Community College was completed in 2020. Sacred Heart Secondary School also have a project currently at Stage 1, which when complete will provide for a total enrolment of 600 as well as accommodation for three classes for children with special educational needs.

While my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in Clonakilty, 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, where pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

- School of choice, where 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, where there are pupils coming from outside the local area

My officials have been engaging with the schools and have confirmed that all students who applied for a place in September 2023 have been accepted.

Additionally, my Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects in Clonakilty and 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.