Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which demand for school places at primary and second level continue to be met at Kilcock, County Kildare, given the rapidly expanding population in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45313/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, 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.

It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always 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

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Kilcock SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level will peak in 2027 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade. However, there will be local variations to this trend particularly in areas of very significant population growth. Projections of Post-Primary school place requirements indicate a similar trend with enrolments peaking in 2027, followed by a expected reduction thereafter.

There are currently a number of active projects at primary and post-primary level in the Kilcock School Planning Area which will increase local capacity, including the following:

• Scoil Uí Riada: Extension to provide 7 Mainstream classrooms and 3 SET room
• Enfield Post-Primary: New School Building to provide accommodation for an LTPE of 1,000 + 4 SEN Classes. Currently at Stage 3.
• Scoil Dara, Kilcock: Extension to provide accommodation for an LTPE of 1,000

The requirement for additional school places in the Kilcock school planning area is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which provision of adequate school places continues in line with requirements at both primary and second level in Clane, County Kildare, given the increased demand arising from burgeoning population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45314/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, 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.

It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always 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

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Prosperous_Clane SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level peaked in 2022 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade. However, there will be local variations to this trend particularly in areas of very significant population growth. Projections of Post-Primary school place requirements indicate enrolments will peak in 2024, followed by an expected reduction thereafter.

There are currently a number of active projects at primary and post-primary level in the Prosperous_Clane School Planning Area which will increase local capacity, including the following:

• Hewetson NS: Extension to provide 6 Mainstream Classrooms + 1 SEN Class Currently at Stage 1
• St Patricks BNS, . New School Building to provide 24 classroom school with 2 SEN Classes. Currently on site.
• St Farnans PP: New school building to provide accommodation for an LTPE of 1,000 pupils + 4 SEN Classes. Currently at Stage 2b.
• Scoil Mhuire CS Clane: Extension to provide 5 Mainstream Classrooms, 2 Science Labs and 4 SEN Classes.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which provision of adequate school places continues in line with requirements at both primary and second level in Naas, County Kildare, given the increased demand arising from burgeoning population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45315/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, 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 primary school place requirements in the Naas SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level will continue to increase up to 2027 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade. However, there will be local variations to this trend particularly in areas of very significant population growth. Projections of Post-Primary school place requirements indicate enrolments are currently at their peak, and will begin to gradually reduce.

It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always 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

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

There are currently a number of active projects at primary level in the Naas School Planning Area which will increase local capacity, including the following:

• Mercy Convent, Naas. New School Building: Brief for a 32 classroom school. Currently at Stage 3
• St. Corban's NS, Naas. New School Building: Extension to provide 16 classroom school with 2 SNU. Currently at Stage 2b
• Holy Child NS. Extension: 2X Mainstream,2 Classroom SEN base & 1 x 19m2 SET. Currently at Stage 1

Overall, the additional capacity being provided in Naas is expected to meet the needs for primary and post primary school places. Nevertheless, the requirement for additional school places in the Naas school planning area is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential further long-term school accommodation requirements.