I 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 (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.
My department also conducts granular analysis below the level of a school planning area, particularly where a school planning area encompasses both high growth urban settlement areas and a more rural hinterland. Our analysis of school place demand in urban areas experiencing high population growth has indicated that demand in the urban area can be 10-20% higher than the school planning area as a whole.
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 have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
To ensure alignment of school provision with the rollout of additional residential development, my department, through the various consultation phases of the Statutory Plan process, liaises with all 31 Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans, all associated Local Area Plans and Masterplans with a view to identifying any medium to potential long-term school place and accommodation requirements across school planning areas and with the purpose of ensuring that there is an adequate amount of appropriately zoned and suitably located sites for future school place provision, which are in line with objectives as identified in the National Planning Framework.
The current Cork City Development Plan 2022 – 2028 identified a targeted population growth of cc 10,000 to 2028. In its submission to that plan, my department anticipated a potential requirement for a minimum of two new primary schools and a potential requirement for another post-primary school (depending on the capacity of the existing schools to expand) within the Ballincollig area. In the recent variation to the Cork City Development Plan 2022 – 2028, which relates to future housing targets and population growth, Cork City Council outline specific housing unit targets for Ballincollig between 2028 and 2030. In its submission to the variation, my department identified the potential school place requirement arising from the population generated from the housing unit targets should they materialise. However, the submission noted that the overall population targets for Ballincollig identified in the current Development Plan are not exceeded by those proposed in the variation and therefore the requirements identified in the original submission to the current Development Plan remain relevant.
School place demand projections developed by my department has allowed for 1,500 to 1,750 new houses in Ballincollig between 2025 and 2030. The overall net demand for primary school places, taking the internal migration associated with these new houses into account, is projected to remain unchanged. The overall net demand for post primary school places is projected to increase marginally, by c. 6%, by 2030. This increased demand will be met by existing capital projects.
Therefore, my department is satisfied that projected school place demand can be accommodated by the existing and growing schools in the area. As a result, there are currently no new school planned in the SPA.
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 pace of delivery of additional residential development in the school planning areas, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements. My department will continue to liaise with Cork County Council in respect to the projected completion of planned residential developments.
The permanent site for Le Chéile Secondary School, Ballincollig, and Gaelscoil an Chaisleain at Lisheens, Ballincollig, has been acquired by Cork City Council by way of a Compulsory Purchase Order, on my behalf. The site remains in the possession of Cork City Council and legal ownership will be transferred in due course.
In the meantime, Cork City Council have agreed for the design of the school campus to proceed unabated, with their consent.
A joint major building project for the two schools is currently being delivered as part of the Departments Adapt 4 programme - Programme Innovate. This project is currently completing Stage 1 of architectural planning. The Stage1 Stakeholder meeting for this project took place in January 2026 attended by representatives from my department, the IPT's and the school authorities. A Stage 1 Addendum was requested by the department, and that addendum report, which was received in the department in April 2026, is currently being reviewed by department officials.
