Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

38. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update in relation to the establishment of a Gaelcholáiste in the south Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23900/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank Deputy Costello for his question in relation to the establishment of a Gaelcholáiste in South Dublin, I can confirm that work is underway in my Department in relation to the review of Irish-medium school places in South Dublin.

As the Deputy is aware, the year of establishment, patronage model and language of instruction have yet to be determined for the new post-primary schools announced to serve two school planning areas in South Dublin (Dublin 2_Dublin 4 and Sallynoggin_Killiney_Dun Laoighaire-Rathdown/Cherrywood).

In planning for the provision of Irish-medium post-primary school places, my Department is looking at the current enrolments and planned enrolments in Gaelscoileanna in the area. It is also looking at how many Irish-medium post-primary places are already available in the area.

This work is being undertaken in order to identify future needs for post-primary Irish-medium provision which may not be catered for by the existing Gaelcholáistí in the area.

My Department expects that existing Gaelcholáistí in the general South Dublin area between them have sufficient school places to meet demand in the short term.

However, given the number of new Gaelscoileanna which have opened in the area in recent years, we are looking actively at the situation as these Gaelscoileanna grow and as the number of sixth class pupils in Gaelscoileanna increases.