Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on her plans to address the projected population growth in Portmarnock; the projected impact this will have on school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39781/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the requirement for school places is kept under ongoing review, using population, enrolment, and residential development data. The country is divided into 314 school planning areas, with a geographical information system helping to identify where additional accommodation is needed at both primary and post-primary levels.

Major new housing developments can impact local demand. The Department monitors planning and construction activity via local authorities, CSO data, and engagement with stakeholders to ensure school infrastructure keeps pace with demographic change. Primary school enrolments at national level have been in decline for a number of years and this downward demographic trend is also now apparent at first year post primary level. The department is satisfied that through projects already delivered and in the process of being delivered, there is sufficient capacity in the Malahide-Portmarnock area to meet the immediate enrolment needs and the department will continue to work closely with school authorities to ensure capacity is made available to all pupils in the area.

There are, however continued pressures in some areas where there is high demand which can also be driven by duplications of applications, applications from outside an area, single sex schools and school of choice factors. Where additional provision is needed, it may involve using existing capacity; extending existing schools; or providing new schools. The Department favours expanding existing schools where possible, aligning with Project Ireland 2040’s compact growth strategy. New schools are only established in areas of significant demographic growth.

Since 2020, over €1.5 billion has been invested in Dublin’s school infrastructure, including major projects in the Malahide-Portmarnock area at both primary and post-primary level. Details of all completed major projects and other ongoing projects is updated regularly on my.gov.ie. As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030. It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important. The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised.

To address enrolment pressures in Portmarnock for the upcoming 2025/2026, the Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools in managing and coordinating their admissions processes including enhancements to the IT systems for registering enrolments so that duplicate acceptances of admission offers are effectively known in real-time at school level, and continuing the data-sharing arrangements with schools in areas of enrolment pressure. The sharing of this data has been very effective in the identification and addressing of school place requirements. The department has also issued guidance to sixth class parents encouraging multiple applications and discouraging holding multiple offers. The Department’s priority is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, meet local school place requirements.

These measures aim to ensure all children secure a school place. The Department works closely with school authorities and Tusla Education Support Service to ensure all local pupils receive an offer of a school place. I want to assure the Deputy that my department is absolutely committed to ensuring that every child, including those in Portmarnock, has a school place in 2025/2026 and beyond.