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.

While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Portlaoise 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 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

Through close engagement with school patrons and authorities, my Department has established a requirement for additional school places in the Portlaoise area. With the support of my Department, a number of additional school places have already been made available in recent weeks. Engagement is ongoing with schools and patrons with a view to making increased provision where necessary.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the school authority under my Department's Additional School Accommodation Scheme.

My Department received a Stage 2B architectural report from the school for review. In order to complete the review, clarification was sought from the school on some details within this report. The project review was recently completed and a decision on the outcome will issue to the school authority in the coming days.