Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
526. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current policy position of her Department regarding the establishment of new Irish medium primary and post-primary schools in Dublin city; whether her Department has assessed projected demand for more Gaelcholáistí in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17173/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes a commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand and support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.
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 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 nationally.
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 must be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
The recent primary school survey included a question to establish parental interest in Irish medium provision. It will provide a useful guide to inform primary and post-primary provision. Initial high-level summary results focusing on response rates will be published in early 2026, with a Q2 2026 timeframe for school-level data.
