Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reconsider building the now deferred school (details supplied) in the Donaghmede, Howth-D13, Baldoyle, Stapolin school planning area, given the LDA development in Clongriffin and the current oversubscription of Belmayne ETSS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25072/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 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 developments.

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 of mine.

The department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools, including in the Donaghmede_Howth_D13 school planning area, with a view to helping the admissions process for 2025/26 run as smoothly as possible.

Furthermore, the successful data-sharing arrangements that were implemented for the 2024/25 admissions process in areas of enrolment pressure have been put in place again for the 2025/26 process. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place. It is important to note, the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex and there can often be significant overlap across areas and schools.

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.

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.

The planned establishment of a new post-primary school in 2021 to serve the Donaghmede_Howth_D13/Baldoyle/Stapolin school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise. Further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of the planned new school taking into account a number of factors including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the school planning areas, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the areas.

There are currently 4 ongoing projects at post primary level in the Donaghmede_Howth_D13 SPA that will deliver over 1,150 additional post primary school places when complete.

These projects are at the following existing post primary schools:

Grange Community College (70020B) with a current enrolment of 526 has a project to deliver a new school that will accommodate over 1,000 pupils, this project includes the provision of 6 special education classrooms.

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann (76085N) with a current enrolment of 494 has a project to deliver a new replacement building to cater for over 600 pupils.

Santa Sabina Dominican College (60380C) with a current enrolment of 749 has a project to deliver 4 mainstream classrooms, 4 special education tuition rooms 1 Science Lab: 1 Science Prep: 1 Art & store: 1 DCG: 1 Graphics: 2 Special education classrooms and ancillary. When completed this school building will have the capacity to accommodate over 850 pupils.

Belmayne ETSS (68346T) with a current enrolment of 530 will have the capacity to accommodate over 1,000 pupils school when the new school development is complete. This project also includes the provision of 4 special education classrooms.

My department is satisfied that the existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the school planning areas. As a result, the establishment of the planned new schools has been deferred.

The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the school planning areas, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements.

My department are currently engaging with the LDA and Fingal County Council in respect to the projected completion of planned residential developments, including the LDA developments.