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.

With regard to the timing of the establishment of the school referred to by the Deputy, further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of planned new schools taking into account a number of factors including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the school planning areas, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the areas.

My Department is satisfied that the existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the school planning areas. As a result, the establishment of the planned new school has been deferred.

The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the school planning areas, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements. My Department will continue to liaise with the Local Authorities in respect to the projected completion of planned residential developments.

In this context, the timing of the establishment of this school is being kept under review in the context of demographic analysis and the pace of residential development in the area.