Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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653. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how her Department uses child-benefit 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30129/25]

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 child benefit data, in conjunction with CSO census data 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.

Child benefit data is made available by the Department of Social Protection which is used as the basis for the projections of future junior infant intake at primary level. This data is geocoded which provides the geographic view of future school place demand. This child benefit data is then adjusted with localised data on the age of first enrolment to account for patterns of movement where children are known to typically cross school planning area boundaries to enrol in school. This adjusted child benefit data gives a basis for 5 year’s projections of junior infant intake at primary level.

There is a longer period of visibility (8 years) for future first year intake at post primary level as the projections are based on the numbers of students feeding through from primary level using the departments school’s enrolment data.

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.

The Department will continue to liaise with local authorities in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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654. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide details on the demographic data required by her Department to determine whether an area experiencing significant new residential developments requires extending the capacity of existing school or schools or whether the provision of a new school or schools is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30130/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department has a robust forward planning process. Planning for school provision takes full account of local dynamics, including areas of high population growth linked to new residential development.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas.

My department uses a geographic information system, which facilitates the analysis of 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.

As part of the demographic demand analysis, my department also factors in planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO, along with engagement with local authorities. This ensures that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes at a local level, where the picture can quickly evolve due to planned new residential development.

My department also conducts granular analysis below the level of a school planning area, particularly where a school planning area encompasses both high growth urban settlement areas and a more rural hinterland.

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 is 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 policy in relation to compact growth, as set out in the National Planning Framework.

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 will continue to liaise with local authorities in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.