Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
351. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the availability of second-level school places in the Killester, Raheny and Clontarf areas in view of increasing demand and projected population growth; the measures being taken to ensure sufficient school places are available for students in these areas in the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53657/26]
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.
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.
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 to ensure that every child has a school place.
The provision of post-primary school places and the operation of admissions processes are matters for individual school authorities, in line with their published admissions policies and relevant legislation. Schools determine their own intake numbers and maintain their own enrolment and waiting list information.
The department does not centrally collate or hold a definitive dataset of available places or waiting lists by school planning area. Consequently, it is not possible for the department to provide a comprehensive table of post-primary places in Dublin or to confirm current waiting list numbers for 2026/27.
Information on first-year intake numbers for individual schools is published in each school’s Admissions Notice on their respective websites. National enrolment data is available on gov.ie.
While the Department engages regularly with post-primary schools in Dublin city as part of its planning for September 2026, including requesting admissions data where potential pressures have been identified, this information is point-in-time and does not capture pupils who may subsequently secure places elsewhere or be added to school lists after data returns.
The department has not imposed any reduction in post-primary places for 2026/27. Decisions on intake levels remain with school authorities, within agreed parameters.
Data available to my department for the 2025/26 academic year highlights that 12.22% of first year places were unfilled across the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning areas in Co. Dublin.
The provision of additional school places can be required in a very small number of areas. This can be facilitated by a range of strategies, some of which may involve additional accommodation but also optimising use of existing capacity.
There are 5 post-primary projects planned in the school planning area and when completed, will cater for the demand for school places in the area. Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The department will continue to liaise with Dublin City 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.
