Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context

469. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify what stage the much-needed schools for the burgeoning population of Cherrywood are at; if she acknowledges the need for primary and secondary schools in this area; if she will clearly outline what the delays are in providing these schools and give a definitive date for the commencement of construction and proposed completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39036/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. The department 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 significantly impact the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, the department 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 proactive engagement with local authorities. 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.

The planned establishment of a new post-primary school in 2021 to specifically serve the Cherrywood SDZ which is in the Sallynoggin/Killiney/Dun Laoghaire Rathdown school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise. This announcement also included for the establishment of two new primary schools to serve the Cherrywood SDZ area specifically. One of those primary schools was designated as an Irish medium Gaelscoil. One primary school (Cherrywood ETNS) opened in 2020 and is located in a new 24 classroom building with capacity to enrol 3 classes of Junior Infants each year. This school is currently enrolling only two classes of Junior Infants as the rate of delivery of residential dwellings in Cherrywood has been slower than what was forecast.

The department is satisfied that existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the school planning area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new post primary school and Irish medium primary school has been deferred.

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