Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
170. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is in communication with the Department of Social Protection in relation to the number of ECCE scheme figures in populated towns each year in order that her Department can forward plan the number of likely school places that will be needed in an area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11018/26]
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.
Child benefit data is made available by the Department of Social Protection, annually, which is used as the basis for the projections of future junior infant intake at primary level. The address data of all children aged 0-5 in receipt of Child Benefit is geocoded which provides the geographic view of future school place demand. This adjusted child benefit data gives a basis for 5 year’s projections of junior infant intake at primary level.
Many families travel outside their immediate area to enrol in an ECCE scheme because of availability and work location. The use of actual address data to project school place demand is therefore considered more accurate and it also allows the department to map future school place demand at a local level, such as settlements, towns, villages, etc., based on population.
