Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will establish a new secondary school in Dublin 8, given the identified need in surrounding catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23901/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.

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 CSO Census data, 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 have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my Department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from Local Authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.

This demographic analysis produces school place demand projections which is then considered in the context of available capacity in any particular area. In large urban areas such as South Dublin City, demand for post primary school places in one particular school planning area can be, and is often, catered for by available capacity in a neighbouring school planning area.

There are 5 Post Primary schools in the Dublin 8 School Planning Area. The published school’s enrolment data for the 2022/23 academic year reported 1,147 enrolments in post primary schools in the Dublin 8 School Planning Area. Surveys conducted during the academic year indicated additional available capacity at these schools.

The most recent projections for Dublin 8 School Planning Area indicate a slight increase in requirements at post primary level up to 2030 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter.

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.

If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (Aonad) in an English-medium school.

There is one post-primary project planned in the Dublin_8 school planning area and when completed, will cater for the demand for school places in the area:

Mercy Secondary School (Roll No: 60872A) – Phase 1 -2 Mainstream classrooms and 1 specialist room. Phase 2 -6 mainstream classrooms, 9 specialist rooms, 2 Special Educational Needs facilities and 2 Special Educational Teaching rooms.

New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.

A new co-educational, multidenominational school under the patronage of Educate Together was established to serve the Dublin South City area as a regional solution. In 2020 the school opened in interim accommodation and the major project, which will provide for a 1,000 pupil school when complete, is currently at stage 3.

The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plan and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.