Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that there are enough primary and secondary school places in the Ballyfermot area to service the population in the area; or if there is a requirement to increasing the capacity of existing schools or the establishment of new ones; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52212/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.

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.
• The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the school planning areas in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.gov.ieand this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
• My Department currently has a number of building projects underway for both Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Ballyfermot School Planning Area. The additional capacity being provided by all of these projects is intended to address projected future capacity requirement. The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across School Planning Areas including in Ballyfermot.
• The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the County Council in respect of its review of the County Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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273. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline plans to tackle the chronic shortage of school places across Lucan, Clondalkin, Newcastle and Rathcoole, where school building projects are progressing too slowly to cope with the surge in demand resulting, in some cases, in children in category one for their local post primary school being placed up to 194th and 229th on waiting lists. [52233/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department.

As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) 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 the Department’s projections of school place requirements.

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, the Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand. Additional provision is made as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.

The Department is aware of pressures at post primary level in a number of school planning areas across Dublin, including Newcastle_Rathcoole, Lucan and Clondalkin School Planning Areas. A critical next step is to acquire clarity on the actual number of additional first year places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, including Newcastle_Rathcoole and Lucan have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established. The understanding of the actual school place needs will give clarity as to the specific actions that are required.

This close engagement with schools and patrons will also allow the Department to identify particular further capacity requirements for the forthcoming years and put any required solutions in place - beyond those that are already in train - to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area.

In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements there has been a continued growth in enrolments in Newcastle_Rathcoole, Lucan and Clondalkin. In response to the projections of school place needs in these planning areas, the Department is providing significant additional post primary capacity. In Newcastle_Rathcoole, projects are underway to provide new 1,000 pupil school buildings for both Holy Family Community School and Coláiste Pobail Fola. These projects are currently at Stage 3, Tender Stage. In Lucan, projects are underway to provide new 1,000 pupil school buildings for St Joseph's College, Lucan Community College and Griffeen College. The project for St Josephs College is currently at Construction phase, while both projects for Lucan CC and Griffeen College are at Stage 3- Tender Stage.

The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.

This also lists all school building projects completed under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme, in county order, from 2010 to date.

I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in Newcastle_Rathcoole, Lucan and Clondalkin for the 2024/25 school year and into the future. Families can be assured that any necessary solution will be delivered so that all of the children in the Newcastle_Rathcoole, Lucan and Clondalkin School Planning Areas will receive a first year place.