Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether there will be a sufficient number of school places in Gorey, County Wexford at primary and post-primary level over the next decade given home building growth and projected population increases. [67482/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, 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 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 Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

A significant number of new houses have been developed in Gorey in recent years and many more are planned. There is an associated demand for school places with the development of new houses. However, due to the reduction in birth rates and family sizes, the school place demand per house has reduced in recent years. Similarly, the demand for school places in the older residential areas in Gorey has reduced significantly. As a consequence and despite the completion of a number of new houses the enrolment numbers in the primary schools have peaked and have reduced in recent years. While the demand for post primary school places are continuing to rise, it is projected to peak in the coming years. As it stands, if no more houses were to be completed in Gorey the demand for places in the existing 15 primary schools would be 15% lower than current levels by 2030 and the demand for places in the existing 3 post primary schools would be 5 to 10% lower than current levels by 2030.

The pace of delivery of additional residential development in Gorey school planning 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.

The department will continue to liaise with Wexford County Council 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 including Gorey.