Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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855. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for completion of a demographic study into Mallow; the date on which this will be published; and the cost of same to date. [19229/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 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, including Mallow, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.

The Department compiles enrolment projections in primary and post-primary school on national and regional (NUTS3) level.

The latest published projections can be found at www.gov.ie/en/collection/projections/. Following the release of updated demographic projections from the Central Statistics Office in late 2024, the Department has begun updating its projections using these updated scenarios, the Department will release the updated projection reports in Q3 of this year.