Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address a shortage of school places in the Cork south-west area. [22802/23]

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.

In response to school place requirements in the area, there has already been significant capital investment into the primary and post-primary schools in South West Cork including new schools to increase mainstream and special class pupil places. In total, there are currently 45 school building projects across schools in South West Cork at various stages of planning and delivery. This includes at primary level Gaelscoil Droichead na Banndan in Bandon which is a new school build currently under construction and will include 1 additional mainstream classroom and 2 additional SEN classes and Gaelscoil Cionn tSaile in Kinsale who are adding an additional 5 mainstream classes to their school.

At Post-Primary level Coláiste na Toirbhirte in Bandon is constructing an extension which will bring it to a total capacity of 1,000 students plus provision with special educational needs and Sacred Heart Secondary School are receiving a new build which will consist of a new 600 pupil school, plus provision for students with special educational needs. Kinsale Community School is also proceeding with a project to provide total capacity for 1,350 students as well as increased provision for students with special educational needs.

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, 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

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.