Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding any analysis her Department has done following the 2022 census regarding the demand for additional secondary school places in the Blanchardstown village school planning district; the outcome of that analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39541/24]

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 (SPA) 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.

An analysis of the Census 2022 population of BlanchardstownVge_D15 SPA shows that the number of preschool children in the town reduced significantly, by over 30%, from 2016 to 2022. Therefore, the long-term demand for post primary school places is projected to decline, even when taking new residential developments and overall population increases are taken into consideration.

The 2023 demographic exercise indicates that post primary enrolments in the BlanchardstownVge_D15 SPA peaked in 2018, remaining static in the interim and are projected to decline from 2025 onwards.

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.

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.

Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in BlanchardstownVge_D15 school planning area for the 2025/26 school year and into the future.