Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to address the need for primary and secondary school places with the expansion of the Shankill and surrounding areas, specifically with the development of Shanganagh castle and Woodbrook, Shankill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50339/26]

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.

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. Our analysis of school place demand in urban areas experiencing high population growth has indicated that demand in the urban area can be 10-20% higher than the school planning area as a whole.

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.

A new school entity was announced in 2018 to serve the Woodbrook/Shangannagh area where significant residential development was proposed. The patronage process and opening of this new school in 2021 was deferred as the level of residential development planned had not materialised at that time. However, a project to deliver a 16 classroom school building for this area is currently at Stage 1 of architectural planning. The department is aware of planned developments in this area by the LDA and are monitoring the pace of delivery of these developments.

A project to provide additional capacity for Gaelscoil Phádraig is currently at Stage 1 of architectural planning.

At post primary level there is a project for a new school building for North Wicklow ETSS currently at Stage 1. In addition, there is a project for Loreto Secondary School currently at Stage 2b to cater for 1000 pupils overall. Furthermore, there are plans to increase capacity at Woodbrook College currently at Stage 1 of architectural planning.

Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my 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.

My department is satisfied that the existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the area.

The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the school planning areas, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements. My department will continue to liaise with the LDA in respect to the projected completion of planned residential developments.