Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2025
409. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected timeline and steps her Department will take regarding the need for, planning and delivering of a new secondary schools or schools in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54606/25]
View answerI 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.
There are currently two projects at post primary level in the Swords school planning area, which when completed will cater for demand in the area.
• Loreto College (Roll no 60810B). 1,000 pupil school and 6 special education classrooms. This is at Stage 2a. Stage 2A involves the preliminary design, site surveys and cost estimates.
• St Finians CC (70120F). Extension to provide long term projected enrolments of 1,000 and 6 special education classrooms. This is at Stage1. Stage 1 is the preliminary design stage where the design team in conjunction with the school authorities, will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief.
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.
Based on analysis undertaken, it is deemed that there is not a sufficient unmet demand in the Swords school planning area to establish a new post primary school entity.
The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the Swords SPA, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of further school requirements in the area.
The department will continue to liaise with Fingal 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.
