Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of progress in ensuring the provision of a new primary school in Newtown, Enfield, County Kildare; the degree to which such provision is capable of meeting the demand in the current and subsequent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45222/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that requirement 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 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.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the 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.

It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications
• School of choice
• Single sex schools
• External draw

My department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

If additional accommodation is required, the aim is 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 school 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 must be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase to ensure that every child has a school place.

For school planning purposes Enfield is in the Kilcock school planning area. There are 12 primary school projects planned in the Kilcock school planning area and when completed, will cater for the demand for school places in the area:

Scoil Chóca Naofa (Roll No: 11976K) – Brief: 6x mainstream classrooms, 2x special education classrooms, 2x special education tuition rooms & works to playground.

Project brief stage - this includes determining the project brief and schedule of accommodation.

St Joseph's NS (Roll No: 16706G) has two projects– Brief: 1x mainstream classroom

Stage 2- Stage 2 is the approval to proceed to construction.

Brief: Brief for a 16x mainstream classroom school

Stage 5- Stage 5 is final handover of the school building to the patron/board of management.

S N Mhuire (Roll No: 18344I) – Brief: 1x mainstream classroom

Stage 4- Stage 4 is the signing of the letter of acceptance to the successful contractor and commencement on site.

Newtown NS, Enfield (Roll No: 18650P) has two projects– Brief: 4 x mainstream classrooms & 1x special education tuition room. Stage 5.

Brief: 2x special education classrooms

Stage 2b- Stage 2b is the developed design & lodgement of planning permission.

Coole NS, Kilcock (Roll No: 18051Q) – Brief: 1x mainstream classroom with en suite. Stage 5.

Tiermohan NS, Naas (Roll No: 18666H) – Brief: 3x mainstream classroom (prefab replacement). Stage 5.

Scoil Ui Riada, Kilcock (Roll No: 19897I) has two projects– Brief: 7x mainstream classrooms: 3x special education tuition rooms, toilets. Stage 4.

Brief: 2x special education classrooms.

Stage 1- Stage 1 is the preliminary design stage where the design team in conjunction with the school authorities, will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief.

St Mary's NS, Enfield (Roll No: 17821L) – Brief: 3x special education classroom. Stage 5.

St Joseph's NS (Roll No: 18887A) – Brief: 1 mainstream classroom. Stage 5.

Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

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.