Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has assessed current school capacity in the East Wall and Sheriff Street area in anticipation of a significant rise in population due to the completion of large-scale housing developments; whether there are plans to expand existing schools or build new ones; if demographic modelling has been carried out to inform future educational infrastructure needs in this part of Dublin’s north inner city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18244/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department of Education.

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 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.

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.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €1.3 billion in school infrastructure in Dublin. This significant capital investment includes new state of the art, modern school accommodation for 500 pupils at Scoil Chaitriona which is at Stage 2a. The extension project at Rosmini Community School to cater for 350 pupils and 2 special education classrooms has been recently delivered. At primary level, a new 16 mainstream classroom school for Gracepark ETNS, has been completed and 10 classroom and 6 special education classrooms extension and refurbishment project for St. Laurence O’ Toole NS is at Stage 5 of construction. New school building projects for Gaelscoil Áine and Central Senior Mixed School to cater for 8 mainstream classrooms and Special education classrooms are at Stage 1. In addition to this there are a number of extension project which when completed will provide additional school places in the school planning areas in this part of Dublin’s north inner city.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the 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.

There are more first year places available across the Drumcondra_Marino SPA than there are sixth class children enrolled in primary schools. For the 2024/25 year, there was a surplus of first year places available with over 9% of available first year places not being filled. It is expected that there will be a similar surplus for the 2025/26 school year.

With regards to Primary school places, while enrolments are projected to increase until 2027, there is sufficient capacity in the area to cater for this increase.

My Department continues to proactively plan for school place needs, using the most up to date data. Information on current and projected future population, and the impact of future residential development in each town, are all considered as part of this planning process. Engagement with school patrons is another important component of the Department’s planning process.

I want to assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work to ensure every child across the country, including the Dublin’s north inner city area, has a school place in 2025/26 and beyond.