Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed secondary school in a location (details supplied); what discussions her Department has had with the planning authority; when this school project will be delivered given the planned population increase over the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25217/25]

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 development.

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

My department is aware of the high level of planned residential development in the Donabate area. Land at Ballymastone, Donabate has been designated for the future development of school facilities to serve the Donabate area. The rate and pace of delivery of these developments and the associated impact on the demand for school places is being closely monitored. Officials of my department will continue to liaise with Fingal County Council regarding the pace of developments in Donabate.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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420. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed primary school in a location (details supplied); if land acquisition has been completed; when she expects construction to commence, and when this school will be completed given the population will increase dramatically in the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25218/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Agreement is in place to acquire this primary school site, officials in my department are in discussions with the current owner of the site to finalise the transfer of the ownership of the site to the Minister.

You will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on the Department's Capital Program to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP).

The accommodation brief for the project is being finalised and the Department will be in further contact with the patron as part of this process.

The Department are actively seeking to advance the matter with the intention of finalising this acquisition as soon as possible. The capital project will progress to the design stages while the acquisition is being finalised.

Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.