Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the revised national planning framework will be used to inform and, if necessary, alter school planning processes in areas of high projected population growth such as Newcastle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16937/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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To ensure alignment of school provision with rollout of additional residential development, the department liaises with all 31 Local Authorities in respect of the County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas. My department engages with all consultation phases of these plans to ensure that there is an adequate amount of appropriately zoned and suitably located sites for future school place provision and that they are in line with objectives as identified in the National Planning Framework. Throughout 2024, department officials have continually interacted with the Local Authorities in respect of school place provision, whilst simultaneously engaging in 68 consultation phases of the Statutory Plan process.

My department also conducts demographic analysis at both school planning area and settlement level. More granular analysis is carried out in, areas encompassing both high growth urban settlement areas and a more rural hinterland.

Where demographic data indicates that additional school place provision is required, the aim to try and facilitate this is by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government policy in relation to compact growth, as set out in the National Planning Framework.

My department will continue to engage with South County Dublin Council through the statutory plan process in terms of the impact on school place provision within the Newcastle area resulting from potential projected population increases following the National Planning Framework review.