Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
352. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the fact that demand for school places in Portmarnock has beat Government projections by a full year; the emergency solutions she will bring forward to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18039/26]
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.
My department produces demographic projections based primarily on child benefit data which is made available by the Department of Social Protection. Address details for all children aged 0-5 living in the state and in receipt of child benefit are used as the basis for the projections of future junior infant intake at primary level. This data is geocoded which provides the geographic view of future school place demand. This child benefit data is then adjusted with localised data on the age of first enrolment to account for patterns of movement where children are known to typically cross school planning area boundaries to enrol in school. This adjusted child benefit data gives a basis for 5 year’s projections of junior infant intake at primary level. This data is mapped to the GIS system and collated by small area and then SPA to project for Junior Infant places for the next 5 years.
The demographic analysis, for primary level, shows the projections for Portmarnock SPA will peak in 2027. The actual 2025/26 enrolments for the Portmarnock SPA are less than what was projected for the 2025/26 school year. The demographic analysis, for post primary level, shows the projections for Portmarnock SPA will peak in 2030.
While my department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, including Portmarnock, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplications of applications, applications from outside an area, and school of choice factors. Notwithstanding the above, in some areas, demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
The data sharing arrangements that were in place for the 2025/26 admissions process have been put in place again for the 2026/27 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including Portmarnock at primary and post-primary level. The admissions data provided by schools will allow the department to analyse duplicate applications.
There can often be significant overlap across areas and schools, and the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex. As a result, there can be multiple iterations, where applicants may accept a place but subsequently be offered and accept a place at a second school, freeing up capacity at the first school accepted.
My department will continue to liaise with local authorities 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.
