Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, 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 from the Department of Social Protection, and my Department's own school enrolment databases, is analysed to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

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

My Department has invested significantly in schools in County Kildare over recent years. Under the National Development Plan, a total of almost €250m has been invested in schools in County Kildare over the last five years. This investment has focused on provision of additional capacity to cater for its increasing population and there are further significant projects in our pipeline including for the North Kildare area.

In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements, there has been a continued growth in enrolments throughout many School Planning Areas in North Kildare. In response, the Department is progressing a number of building projects in North Kildare under the National Development Plan. This includes projects at primary and post primary schools, and includes provision for mainstream accommodation as well as for children with special educational needs. These projects include recently completed new school buildings for Maynooth Community College, Maynooth Post Primary School, Naas Community College and Maynooth ETNS. Additionally, a number of further new school buildings and extensions are at construction or planned, including for St. Farnan’s Post Primary School, Prosperous; Scoil Dara and Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock; Maynooth BNS; Celbridge Community School; Scoil Naomh Padraig, Celbridge; St. Raphael’s Special School, Celbridge; Leixlip ETNS; Gaelscoil Ruairí, Maynooth; Mercy Convent Primary School, Naas; Hewetson NS, Clane and St Patrick’s BNS, Clane.

My Department is aware of increasing enrolment pressures in some areas, including Prosperous_Clane. As part of planning for September 2024, data on applications for admission has been received by the department from post-primary schools across these areas of enrolment pressure, and updated data on offers and acceptances continues to be received as admissions processes transact.

The sharing of this data has been very effective in the identification of school place requirements across the areas. In the majority of areas across Kildare, through the work of schools, patrons, management bodies and the Department, there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children in the area. The Department is working with schools and patrons to make additional places available in a small number of areas where a need has been identified.

While some applicants may not yet have received an offer of a school place for 2024/25, families can be assured that all children who require a school place will be provided with one. The Department is continuing to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there are sufficient school places available, and to put any required solutions in place.

There will be greater clarity for families over the coming weeks as admissions processes continue to work through and required additional places come on stream.