Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
227. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the latest pupil enrolment pressures and projected demand for primary school places in Longford town, Mullingar, Athlone, Edgeworthstown and Ballymahon. [72641/25]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas (SPA) 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.
Longford Town and Edgeworthstown are in the Longford Newtownforbes SPA. According to Child Benefit data in this SPA there are approximately 296 2 year olds, 317 3 year olds and 338 4 year olds that are likely to require junior infant places in the coming years. According to Child Benefit data in the Mullingar SPA, there are 433 2 year olds, 470 3 year olds and 438 4 year olds that are likely to require places in the coming years. The Athlone SPA has 375 2-year-olds, 365 3-year-olds and 448 4-year-olds that are likely to require junior infant places in the coming years. The Ballymahon SPA has 99 2 year olds, 98 3 year olds and 95 4 year olds that are likely to require places in the coming years
At primary level, enrolments for Longford and Ballymahon school planning areas peaked in 2018. Athlone SPA enrolments peaked in 2019 while Mullingar SPA enrolments are projected to have peaked in 2024 with enrolments projected to decrease thereafter.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The availability of places is a matter for each individual school in the context of admissions legislation and their individual policies. Enrolment data for previous school years is available on the Department website. Provisional enrolment data for the 2024/25 school year is available on the Department's website at www.gov.ie.
The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers. Contact details are available on Tusla’s website.
My Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
