Written Answers Nos. 222-243
222. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether a representative of the social enterprise sector will be appointed to the Cost of Business Advisory Forum, in recognition of the particular difficulty these organisations face in absorbing or passing on increased employment and operating costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66778/26]
View answerJust last month, I welcomed the publication of the Final Report of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum, which I established as a commitment under the Programme for Government to examine the factors contributing to the cost of doing business in Ireland and to identify practical measures to improve competitiveness. As the Forum has primarily concluded its work, in the form of its Final Report, it is not proposed at this stage to adjust the membership of the Forum.
Since the inaugural meeting in June 2025, the Forum met 8 times, bringing together business representative bodies, social partners, regulators, State agencies and Government Departments. The Forums Final Report which examined a range of non-pay cost drivers affecting enterprise, including energy, insurance, legal services, water and wastewater services, infrastructure and planning, tax administration and regulatory compliance, and banking and financial services. It contained 63 recommendations aimed at reducing costs, strengthening competitiveness, improving price transparency and switching options, simplifying regulation, and addressing bottlenecks that impact businesses, particularly SMEs.
From my Department's perspective, this Independent report provides an important evidence base on the cost pressures facing businesses and identifies a number of issues that warrant further examination. Addressing these actions will require sustained engagement across Government, agencies, regulators and stakeholders to advance short, medium and long term actions that can reduce the cost of doing business, improve competitiveness and support sustainable enterprise growth
Already, the work of the Forum is informing Government policy development, for example, its recommendations are helping to inform the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, chaired by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, which is examining energy costs for businesses of different sizes. In addition, I am engaging with the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in advance of Budget 2027, and issues identified in the report are being taken into account as part of those discussions.
Reducing unnecessary administrative burdens on businesses still remains a priority. In 2025, I updated Government on my Department's progress in reducing red tape and simplifying processes for small businesses. And in August this year my Department is working with the Department of the Taoiseach on the Red Tape Challenge initiative, which aims to further reduce regulatory burdens for SMEs by asking Department, their associated agencies and regulatory bodies to audit permit and licensing frameworks.
To advance implementation of the recommendations and given their cross-cutting nature, a co-ordinated Government-wide approach will be required. Work is underway to establish appropriate arrangements to track and monitor progress. Relevant lead Departments will assess the feasibility, resource implications and potential impacts of individual recommendations and identify priorities for action. The objective is to translate the Forum’s recommendation into practical measures that reduce the cost of doing business, improve competitiveness and create a supportive operating environment for enterprise.
223. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of work visas and the critical skill visas issued by his Department in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [66900/26]
View answerIreland operates a managed employment permits system designed to address skills and labour shortages while protecting employment opportunities for suitably qualified Irish and EEA workers. The system facilitates the recruitment of non-EEA nationals where genuine labour market needs exist and where all statutory criteria set out in the Employment Permits Act 2024 and associated Regulations are met.
The table below sets out the total number of employment permits issued, including the number of Critical Skills Employment Permits issued, in each of the past ten years.
Employment permit statistics, including monthly and annual data, are published on the Department's website.
|
Permit Type |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
|
Total |
9,376 |
11,361 |
13,388 |
16,152 |
16,363 |
16,283 |
39,962 |
30,979 |
39,398 |
31,153 |
28,703 |
|
Critical Skills Employment Permit |
3,596 |
5,110 |
5,864 |
7,585 |
8,199 |
9,435 |
21,448 |
15,673 |
17,168 |
11,271 |
9,078 |
224. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total employment in IDA Client companies in Laois for each of the past five years; and the number of new jobs created in each of the past five years. [66887/26]
View answerBalanced regional development is a key element of the Government's enterprise policy, as set out in the Programme for Government and the White Paper on Enterprise, and is a key focus of the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. In this regard, IDA prioritises balanced regional development, recognising the importance of attracting investment and supporting employment opportunities across all regions of the country.
Over the period of its last strategy, 2021–2024, IDA Ireland supported the delivery of 973 investments and the creation of 76,790 jobs, with 54% of these investments secured in regional locations. The Midlands Region, comprising counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, exceeded its investment target during this period, securing 31 investments against a target of 25.
Under its current strategy, Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025–2029, IDA Ireland is aiming for 550 of 1,000 new investments to be in regional areas, including 40 in the Midlands. In 2025, the first year of the strategy, IDA Ireland secured a record 323 investments, a 38% increase on 2024. These investments are expected to create more than 15,300 additional jobs in the coming years.
IDA’s strong regional performance has continued in 2026, with 190 investments approved in the first six months of the year, supporting more than 10,400 job approvals. Regional locations accounted for 52% of investments during this period, in line with IDA’s objective of maximising regional growth.
As the Deputy is aware, the availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and can be the key differentiator in investment decisions in the regions from both new and existing clients as well as clients of Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs. Through its Regional Property Programme, IDA aims to provide agile, sustainable, flexible property solutions providing certainty to clients in advance of demand.
Accordingly, IDA has made considerable investments in land and infrastructure across the Midlands Region, including the acquisition of a landbank in Co. Laois. There are approximately 33ha available for development at the IDA Portlaoise Business & Technology Park, and IDA Ireland is actively marketing this property solution for potential opportunities.
Employment figures for IDA client companies are compiled on an annual basis. The table below sets out, for each of the past five years, the number of jobs in IDA client companies in Co. Laois and the number of new jobs created.
|
Year |
New Jobs Created (Gross Gains) |
Total Jobs |
|
2025 |
11 |
156 |
|
2024 |
21 |
145 |
|
2023 |
1 |
180 |
|
2022 |
18 |
193 |
|
2021 |
32 |
190 |
IDA’s focus over the coming years is to build on the strengths and competencies of the region with a particular focus on high value manufacturing, services and research and development opportunities across a number of established clusters in Life Sciences, Technology, and Global Business Services. Emerging technology trends have and will continue to create new opportunities across the region in areas such as data analytics, smart manufacturing, cybersecurity and new approaches to working such as co-working hubs.
I can assure you that I remain committed to driving a competitive, resilient and sustainable economy that supports enterprise, tourism and employment across all of Ireland’s regions.
225. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures he plans to introduce to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in managing rising labour costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66669/26]
View answerThe Government recognises that rising business costs, including labour costs, have placed significant pressure on firms, particularly SMEs, in recent years. The Government continues to closely monitor cost trends across the economy.
Government is taking significant action to tackle the cost of doing business, including on labour costs. Last year, as part of measures designed to bolster business resilience and competitiveness, the Government agreed to extend the timeline for progression to a Living Wage from 2026 to 2029. This decision reflected the challenges faced by the enterprise sector in recent years, particularly SMEs where a significant majority of minimum wage workers are employed.
The Government has also delivered on several Programme for Government commitments relating to this issue, including through the establishment of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum and the publication and continued implementation of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity.
The publication of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum report in August represents a notable step forward in this regard. The report is the product of nine meetings held with public and private sector stakeholders, with discussions encompassing a wide range of cost drivers, including energy and insurance costs, planning and infrastructure regulations, water services costs, legal costs, reporting and compliance requirements, as well as banking, payments and financial services.
The final report comprises 63 recommendations across these areas aimed at easing business costs, particularly for SMEs. Key examples include initiatives to consider the feasibility of a new scheme to reduce prices for large energy-intensive business users, to alter the Central Bank's remit to promote competition within the banking sector, and to pursue the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council's recommendation to exempt SMEs from the Enhanced Reporting Requirements (ERR).
It should also be noted that the Department intends to support SMEs beyond reducing business costs. The Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity was published in September 2025. The plan reflects a whole-of-government approach to the domestic drivers of competitiveness and focuses on areas that are firmly within our national control. It contains 85 actions, with just under half due for delivery in 2026.
One of the six key themes in the plan relates to the creation and scaling of SMEs. Key actions for completion in 2026 under this theme include establishing Start-up Ireland as a central coordinating body across the national start-up ecosystem and establishing an SME Scaling Fund to help close the funding gap for SMEs seeking to grow.
Other key actions in the plan that are particularly relevant for SMEs include introducing a "Red Tape Challenge" across Government to reduce regulatory burdens on SMEs and promoting the digitisation of tourism SMEs by supporting the adoption of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Finally, another important action is to further promote the application of the "SME Test", under which policymakers are required to assess the specific impact of new legislation on SMEs. Under the Action Plan, all Government Departments would be required to apply the test consistently in relation to all proposed measures, helping to ensure that the needs and circumstances of SMEs are fully considered in policymaking.
226. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his proposals to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in addressing the rising costs of fuel and energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66670/26]
View answerJust last month, I welcomed the publication of the Final Report of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum, which I established as a commitment under the Programme for Government to examine the factors contributing to the cost of doing business in Ireland and to identify practical measures to improve competitiveness. As the Forum has primarily concluded its work, in the form of its Final Report, it is not proposed at this stage to adjust the membership of the Forum.
Since the inaugural meeting in June 2025, the Forum met 8 times, bringing together business representative bodies, social partners, regulators, State agencies and Government Departments. The Forums Final Report which examined a range of non-pay cost drivers affecting enterprise, including energy, insurance, legal services, water and wastewater services, infrastructure and planning, tax administration and regulatory compliance, and banking and financial services. It contained 63 recommendations aimed at reducing costs, strengthening competitiveness, improving price transparency and switching options, simplifying regulation, and addressing bottlenecks that impact businesses, particularly SMEs.
From my Department's perspective, this Independent report provides an important evidence base on the cost pressures facing businesses and identifies a number of issues that warrant further examination. Addressing these actions will require sustained engagement across Government, agencies, regulators and stakeholders to advance short, medium and long term actions that can reduce the cost of doing business, improve competitiveness and support sustainable enterprise growth
Already, the work of the Forum is informing Government policy development, for example, its recommendations are helping to inform the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, chaired by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, which is examining energy costs for businesses of different sizes. In addition, I am engaging with the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in advance of Budget 2027, and issues identified in the report are being taken into account as part of those discussions.
Reducing unnecessary administrative burdens on businesses still remains a priority. In 2025, I updated Government on my Department's progress in reducing red tape and simplifying processes for small businesses. And in August this year my Department is working with the Department of the Taoiseach on the Red Tape Challenge initiative, which aims to further reduce regulatory burdens for SMEs by asking Department, their associated agencies and regulatory bodies to audit permit and licensing frameworks.
To advance implementation of the recommendations and given their cross-cutting nature, a co-ordinated Government-wide approach will be required. Work is underway to establish appropriate arrangements to track and monitor progress. Relevant lead Departments will assess the feasibility, resource implications and potential impacts of individual recommendations and identify priorities for action. The objective is to translate the Forum’s recommendation into practical measures that reduce the cost of doing business, improve competitiveness and create a supportive operating environment for enterprise.
227. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department will work with the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Cork County Council to identify and service additional industrial and enterprise lands across Cork North-West, particularly in locations with access to the N20, N22 and N72. [66962/26]
View answerBalanced regional development is a key focus of the work of my Department and our Enterprise Development agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to promoting FDI in regional locations as part of its 2025-29 strategy, Adapt Intelligently, and is targeting 550, or 55% of FDI projects outside Dublin over the strategy's lifetime.
Cork forms part of IDA Ireland’s South-West Region, alongside County Kerry, and is a key focus of the agency’s regional strategy. IDA Ireland is targeting 155 of the 550 targeted investments to the South-West Region.
The South-West region is actively promoted to prospective investors and is home to 245 IDA client companies employing 53,535 people, the highest level of IDA-supported employment outside Dublin. Employment among these companies has grown by 17% over the past five years, reflecting continued strength in foreign direct investment in the region. There are 228 IDA client companies employing 51,425 in the city and county. 20 of these are located across Cork County including 10 IDA client companies located across North Cork employing 1,623 across Millstreet, Kanturk, Charleville, Mallow, Mitchelstown, and Fermoy. The majority of FDI operations in the county are in manufacturing with significant capital expenditure associated with investments spanning Biopharma, Med tech, Technology, and Engineering companies.
As the Deputy is aware, the availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and can be the key differentiator in investment decisions in the regions from both new and existing clients as well as clients of Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs. Through its Regional Property Programme, IDA aims to provide agile, sustainable, flexible property solutions, providing certainty to clients in advance of demand. IDA maintains a focus on land banks to future proof the ability of the property portfolio to continue to support the project pipeline of investment which can have significant regional and national economic impacts.
IDA Ireland has approximately 250 hectares of lands available for marketing to IDA and EI clients in Cork and works closely with key stakeholders such as infrastructure service providers, Enterprise Ireland and Cork County Council, to ensure the identification and development of lands that are suitable for client investment. IDA also works with regional stakeholders and the private sector on opportunities to add to the supply of competitive property solutions in the Southern region.
IDA continues to market Cork city and county and the wider North-West region through its strategic landbanks and Business & Technology Parks while its attractive towns provide quality of life, more affordable housing and flexible working opportunities.
I can assure you that I am committed to driving a competitive, resilient and sustainable economy that supports enterprise, tourism and employment across all of Ireland’s regions.
228. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific measures are being considered to assist long-established family businesses in rural communities with succession planning, digitalisation, energy efficiency and rising operating costs. [66961/26]
View answerI recognise the important economic and social contribution made by long-established family businesses in rural communities. These businesses support local employment, sustain essential services and contribute to the resilience and vitality of towns and villages throughout the country.
Digitalisation is a central element of the Government’s enterprise policy. The Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity contains actions for improved and more targeted funding for the adoption of artificial intelligence and digital tools, together with measures to support innovation and the adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies by SMEs. It also provides for a targeted SME upskilling and reskilling scheme. In the tourism sector, which is particularly important to rural and regional economies, the Plan commits to promoting the digitalisation of tourism SMEs through pilot projects involving technologies such as generative AI, the Internet of Things and immersive experiences, in partnership with European Digital Innovation Hubs.
The Local Enterprise Offices will also continue to play a central role in supporting small businesses. Over the period from 2026 to 2030, their focus will include competitiveness, productivity, exports, decarbonisation and digitalisation. This will involve an expansion of established supports such as Digital for Business, Grow Digital, Green for Business and the Energy Efficiency Grant.
The Government is also conscious that energy costs remain a significant pressure for small businesses. International supply disruptions and pressures in refined-product markets can feed rapidly into domestic diesel, petrol and kerosene prices. This is particularly relevant to rural businesses that may be more dependent on road transport and oil-based heating.
The Cost of Business Advisory Forum Report, published on the 28th of August, identifies energy as the principal contributor to rising non-pay business costs and makes a range of practical recommendations. These include greater transparency in energy bills, a commercial price-comparison and switching tool, improved guidance on reducing energy consumption, increased availability of low-cost energy audits for SMEs, simpler application processes for energy grants and supports, multi-annual funding for business energy-upgrade schemes, and the development of options to expand Accelerated Capital Allowances for measures recommended through qualified energy audits.
The Forum also makes recommendations addressing the broader operating-cost and administrative pressures facing small businesses. These include simplifying permits and licences, making the SME Test more rigorous, reducing duplication in reporting obligations, simplifying corporate tax returns and improving transparency and competition in business banking and payment services. Its recommendations are intended to reduce the cost and complexity of doing business and to create a more competitive, resilient and productive environment for enterprises of all sizes.
These recommendations complement measures in the Government’s Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which includes a cross-Government Red Tape Challenge to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on SMEs, strengthening of the SME Test, an expansion of the one-stop business licensing service and continued action to improve insurance affordability, transparency and availability.
Finally, the Government is committed to ensuring that enterprise development is regionally balanced. The Action Plan provides for new Regional Enterprise Plans from 2026 onwards, consideration of a new Regional Enterprise Development Fund, and closer alignment between regional enterprise policy, regional spatial strategies and the National Planning Framework. These measures are intended to strengthen local enterprise ecosystems and support sustainable businesses and employment throughout the regions.
My Department will continue to ensure that small and family-run businesses can access practical supports to improve productivity, adopt digital technologies, invest in energy efficiency and manage the continuing pressures associated with the cost of doing business.
229. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of full time advertising and consumer engagement co-ordinators posts filled by gender and location, employed by Tourism Ireland as of 15 September 2026, in tabular form. [67077/26]
View answerI am advised that Tourism Ireland, the organisation responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas, employs personnel in advertising-related roles across the organisation. Only one individual holds the specific title of Advertising and Consumer Engagement Coordinator, as set out in the table below:
|
Role Title |
Gender |
Location |
Contract |
|
Advertising & Consumer Engagement Coordinator |
Female |
New York |
Full-time |
230. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment further to PQ63192/26 of 7 September 2026, the duties a manufacturer has when it receives a formal product-safety complaint and supporting technical evidence, in particular whether it is required to investigate the reported safety risk, rather than simply attribute the problem to the installer (details supplied). [67068/26]
View answerFurther to Parliamentary Question No. 63192/26 of 7 September 2026, manufacturers have obligations under product safety legislation where they receive information relevant to the safety of a product they have placed on the market.
Under Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety, as implemented in Ireland by the European Union (General Product Safety) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 726 of 2024), manufacturers are required to ensure that products they have placed or made available on the market have been designed and manufactured so that they are safe.
Manufacturers are also required to have procedures in place to monitor the safety of products placed on the market and to investigate complaints, incidents and other information relevant to product safety. Where a manufacturer becomes aware of information that may indicate a safety risk associated with a product, it must assess that risk and take appropriate corrective action where necessary.
Manufacturers are also obliged to keep an internal register of complaints received from consumers concerning product safety and to inform other economic operators in the supply chain, and relevant authorities where appropriate, of safety issues identified.
Accordingly, where a manufacturer receives a complaint and supporting information that may indicate a safety risk associated with a product, the legislation requires the manufacturer to have procedures in place to investigate the complaint and assess any potential safety risk identified. The responsibility for ensuring product safety and investigating reported safety concerns rests with the manufacturer.
Should a consumer have concerns regarding the safety of a product, or encounter difficulties in resolving those concerns with the relevant business or manufacturer, they may contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission for information and guidance.
231. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current legislative timeline for the full implementation of the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025 and the establishment of the short-term letting register; and the specific measures being taken to ensure local authorities are adequately resourced to enforce the associated planning regulations. [67200/26]
View answerIn April of last year, I obtained Government approval for the general scheme of the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill. Upon enactment, this Bill will put in place a comprehensive statutory framework for the regulation of the short-term letting sector, including the establishment of a national register. Drafting is at an advanced stage, and I intend to bring the Bill to Government in the very near future to secure approval for its publication. The Bill will then be progressed through the Oireachtas and enacted in advance of the establishment of the register.
This register, which has been broadly welcomed by the tourism sector, will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland. The register will launch on 1 December 2026, with a legal obligation on all operators to register by 31 December 2026. The register will operate in compliance with the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation (EU) 2024/1028, which came into effect on 20 May 2026.
The planning policy framework for short-term letting activity, and all matters relating to planning and local authority resources, fall within the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Draft National Planning Statement (NPS) for Short-Term Letting was approved by Government on 17 June 2026, following its submission to Cabinet by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage as proposed national planning policy. The Government decision enabled the draft NPS to progress to the next stages of the statutory process, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment and notification under the EU Services Directive. Subject to the completion of these processes, a finalised version of the NPS will be returned to Government for approval.
The planning policy for short-term letting activity, as set out in the NPS, restricts the approval of new planning permissions for short-term lets in cities and larger towns with a population of over 20,000 at the last census, based on the census town boundaries (defined by the CSO). There will be a presumption in favour of granting planning permission for short-term letting where a dwelling has been used continuously for this purpose for at least seven years, and no enforcement action was taken. This applies where the proposal would not create serious traffic, flooding, or pollution risks, or breach occupancy-related planning conditions. A simplified administrative version of the application process for retention specifically for these short-term lets, will be introduced.
Short-term letting accommodation providers based in towns with a population of 20,000 or less at the last census, will have two years to meet national planning compliance requirements.
The letting of a room or rooms in a person’s principal private residence is permissible on an unrestricted basis and is exempt from planning requirements.
It should be noted that homesharers are currently allowed to sub-let their entire principal private residence (house or apartment) on a short-term basis for a cumulative period of 90 days where they are temporarily absent from their home. Where the 90-day threshold is exceeded, planning permission for change of use is required.
The introduction of the register will provide the first comprehensive and authoritative picture of the short-term letting (STL) sector and will serve as the primary source of STL data. Until the register becomes operational, Fáilte Ireland will continue to produce monthly estimates of online STL activity based on data collected from online listings. These estimates indicate that, as of July 2026, 34,420 STL properties were advertised across two of the largest booking platforms operating in the Irish market. This represents an increase of 23% from 27,900 properties recorded in 2022.
Tourism is a vital part of the Irish economy, supporting 228,700 jobs and generating €5.4 billion in 2025. The Government’s approach positively strikes a balance between sustaining rental housing supply and supporting the vitality of rural and regional tourism and employment.
To ensure that all accommodation providers and intermediaries advertising short-term letting accommodation are aware of their registration and reporting obligations, my Department has developed a dedicated webpage providing easily accessible information for the sector, available at: enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/the-business-environment/tourism/short-term-letting.
The webpage is regularly updated to reflect the latest developments and provides guidance on registration requirements and related obligations.
232. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the growth and sustainability loan scheme (GSLS) will reopen for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66903/26]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, I can confirm that, subject to the completion of the necessary operational and legal arrangements, it is expected that participating lenders will commence offering the expanded Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme (GSLS) in the coming weeks.
The original GSLS, which launched in September 2023, provided SMEs, farmers, fishers and foresters with access to competitively priced, long-term finance to support investment, growth and sustainability objectives. Demand for the Scheme was exceptionally strong, with participating lenders fully utilising their allocations before the Scheme’s original expiry date of 30 June 2026, demonstrating the clear need for continued access to long-term investment finance.
The expanded GSLS will continue to support eligible businesses by providing affordable finance for strategic investment, business growth, productivity improvements and sustainability-related projects.
My Department is working closely with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Finance and the European Investment Bank Group to finalise the remaining arrangements and bring the expanded Scheme to market as quickly as possible.
Further details on the expanded Scheme, including information on participating lenders and the application process, will be made available at launch through the relevant Departments, the SBCI and participating lenders.
233. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department will conduct a cost benefit analysis of the value to the economy of operational roles related to data centres (estimated by his Department as 7,636 additional operational jobs from 2010 to 2024) against the increased energy costs associated with the operation of data centres. [67220/26]
View answerMy Department recently published the independent report, The Value of Data Centres to Ireland, prepared by KPMG.
The report was commissioned to address a knowledge gap regarding the economic contribution of data centres to Ireland, including their impact on employment, Gross Value Added (GVA), tax revenues and wider economic activity. It found that data centres supported an additional 7,636 operational jobs between 2010 and 2024 and made a significant contribution to economic activity during that period.
The Terms of Reference for the study were to:
• determine the economic impacts and wider societal benefits arising from existing and planned data centres in Ireland up to 2030; and
• explore options for the evolution of the data-centre landscape beyond 2030 with a view to optimising future economic and societal benefits.
While the report was required to consider trade-offs and opportunity costs associated with future data-centre development, it was not commissioned as a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis comparing the economic benefits of data centres with electricity costs.
Nevertheless, the report examines a range of issues relevant to these questions, including energy demand, grid constraints, energy security, carbon impacts, infrastructure requirements and alternative post-2030 development scenarios.
In doing so, it identifies a number of policy trade-offs associated with different approaches to future development of the sector and considers the potential implications for economic activity, competitiveness and foreign direct investment.
As I have outlined, the report was not commissioned as a cost-benefit analysis of the type referred to by the Deputy and there are currently no plans to commission a separate study of that nature.
234. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total expenditure by her Department on campaigns to promote teaching as a profession and to encourage teacher recruitment in each of the years from 2018 to 2025 and to date in 2026, including expenditure under the Teaching Transforms Campaign, by advertising, media placement, digital advertising, creative and production costs, public relations, consultancy and other expenditure; and the total expenditure planned for these purposes in 2027. [66331/26]
View answer239. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated annual expenditure in 2026 on measures specifically designed to address post-primary teacher recruitment and supply, broken down by measure, including promotional campaigns, bursaries, initial teacher education expansion, subject upskilling programmes, recruitment initiatives and other teacher-supply measures; and to compare this with the estimated cost of recognising verified teaching experience in accredited private schools outside the European Union for incremental credit purposes. [66353/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 239 together.
This Government is committed to ensuring that every child has a positive school experience, with access to qualified and engaged teachers who are dedicated to supporting their learning.
Teaching is an attractive profession, and there are a significant number of newly qualified teachers graduating annually. Over 3,600 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2025, including 1,798 at post primary level and 1,823 at primary level, and CAO data shows a consistent demand for undergraduate ITE programmes. Salaries are competitive, starting at €45,833 (primary) and €47,417 (post-primary) and rising to €84,412 and €86,265 under the current pay deal. Few teachers resign, with less than 3% of the teaching workforce resigning or retiring annually from contracted teaching posts.
An analysis of payroll data from November 2025 shows there are over 75,000 teachers employed in schools across the country, and over 98% of allocated teaching posts are filled nationwide. This includes 34,626 at post primary level, 39,312 at primary level and 1,871 in special schools. 2.5% of allocated posts at primary level and less than 1% of posts at post primary level were unutilised.
Promotion of the profession as a career continues through the Teaching Transforms campaigns. The Teaching Transforms campaign encourages students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign uses digital, radio and video media, and is supported by a dedicated webpage, www.gov.ie/teachingtransforms. Promotion campaigns have been developed to coincide with the CAO closing date and change of mind deadline in recent years.
The table below shows Teaching Transforms expenditure from 2018 to 2026, as well as planned expenditure for 2027.
|
Year |
€ |
|
2018 |
€133,291.07 |
|
2019 |
€201,194.51 |
|
2020 |
€177,430.77 |
|
2021 |
€174,060.66 |
|
2022 |
€162,746.52 |
|
2023 |
€251,144.67 |
|
2024 |
€152,988.24 |
|
2025 |
€140,229.88 |
|
2026 |
€10,863.36 |
|
2027 |
€200,000.00 |
Three new upskilling programmes in computer science, French, and politics & society were introduced in 2025 and were in addition to existing programmes in Spanish, mathematics, physics and Irish. These flexible programmes, free to registered teachers, boost teachers’ employment opportunities while addressing subject-specific teacher shortages at post-primary level.
The estimated expenditure on the upskilling programmes in Maths, Physics, Spanish, Irish, Politics and Society, French and Computer Science in 2026 is €2.3m.
A STEM Bursary was announced in Budget 2025. This is a €2,000 annual bursary for student teachers in STEM fields during the final two years of their undergraduate teacher education, with a requirement to complete at least 2 years of teaching post-qualification in a recognised post-primary school. The Department issued Circular 0019/2026 Concurrent Initial Teacher Education Bursary Scheme (STEM Bursary) in January 2026 setting out the eligibility criteria and application process. The estimated expenditure on the STEM Bursary in 2026 is €618,000.
The Department of Education and Youth currently has a scheme in place which allows for teachers who work in an Oireachtas funded teaching post to apply for incremental credit with respect to previous teaching service which they accrued while teaching outside of Ireland. The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service both within and outside the EU.
A costing of recognising verified teaching experience in accredited private schools outside the European Union for incremental credit purposes has not been undertaken and there are currently no plans to do so.
This Government has implemented several other measures to address teacher supply issues, including measures geared towards teachers overseas, that have led to:
- an increase of 20% in initial teacher education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and
- an over 30% increase in the number of teachers registered with the Teaching Council since 2017.
Turas Abhaile is an initiative of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), supported by my Department, which has assisted teachers based abroad to return to teach in Ireland since September 2019. Turas Abhaile matches teachers with specific vacancies and participating schools to facilitate online interviews to suit the preferences of candidates.
My Department recently approved regulations to allow teachers who qualified overseas to undertake their induction in the State. This will help to encourage teachers abroad to return to Ireland to take up teaching roles.
A comprehensive workforce plan for the education sector, a commitment under the Programme for Government, is in development. Additionally, a project focused on strategic workforce planning for teachers in Ireland, led by UNESCO and supported by the EU Commission, has published recommendations for addressing the main factors affecting teacher supply in Ireland. The project report, which was launched on 7th September 2026, can be accessed online at the following link unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000399288.locale=en
Recommendations include measures focused on subject-specific shortages at post-primary, substitute teachers, special education, Irish Medium Education, DEIS primary, cost-of-living concerns, data management and diversity in the profession.
235. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the transfer of lands at Magee Barracks, County Kildare to her Department; the expected timeline for its completion; to detail the post-closing obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66298/26]
View answerI can confirm that the transfer of the lands at Magee Barracks, County Kildare, to the Minister was completed in 2024, conditional on post-closing obligations.
As part of the post-closing obligations, the Vendor is required to construct a section of the planned Distributor Road that will provide access from the public road to the proposed entrance of the permanent school facility.
236. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth If she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if she will provide an update on the school bus ticket application; and if the tickets could be issued given the circumstances. [66293/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Where a child is eligible for transport and the application and payment process has been completed on time, they will get a seat on a school bus service, where a service is available.
Children who are not eligible, but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; previously known as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for non-eligible pupils. In these cases, Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann have advised that one of the pupils referred is not eligible for school transport to their primary school of attendance however they were successful in obtaining a seat and a ticket has issued.
Bus Éireann further advise that two of the other pupils referred to are eligible for school transport as they are attending their nearest post-primary centre. An application was created before the deadline for one of these pupils; however, this application was subsequently closed by the family. Late applications were received for both pupils on 27 August, and these are currently assigned to the local Inspector for review. Bus Éireann will liaise with the family in the coming days.
237. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a new school project (details supplied); and a timeframe for next steps. [66343/26]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is a new 16 classroom primary school with 3 classroom SEN. The project is included on the NDP Priority List of 105 projects to proceed to tender/construction in 2026/2027.
The major building project is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals, which have been secured, and the preparation of tender documents.
My Department received the Stage 2b submission report from the Design Team in March 2025. My Department commenced a detailed review of this report by the multi disciplinary team and comments were issued to the Design Team requesting clarification. The Design Team have addressed these comments and the responses to those queries are currently under ongoing detailed review.
Since 2020, the Department of Education has provided over €283 million in capital funding for Galway schools.
Over this period, a total of 98 schools have been upgraded through provision of either a new school building, extension, modular accommodation or climate pathfinder projects.
10 school projects to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the NDP Implementation Plan.
There are currently 17 large-scale, extension, modular or climate pathfinder projects in Galway under construction. There are also 20 projects underway through the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme. In addition, since 2020 a total of 111 special classes have been sanctioned in Galway, of which 33 were sanctioned for September 2026.
238. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department or the Teaching Council has surveyed registered Irish teachers currently resident outside the State to determine the factors preventing or discouraging them from returning to teach in Ireland, including salary, recognition of overseas teaching experience, housing, availability of permanent full-time positions and registration requirements; if so, to provide the findings; and if not, whether she will undertake such a survey in 2026 as part of the development of the teacher workforce plan. [66355/26]
View answerA survey of registered Irish teachers currently resident outside the State to determine the factors preventing or discouraging them from returning to teach in Ireland has not been carried out and there are currently no plans to do so.
Relatively few teachers are working outside the State. Recently published research on the number of teachers registered indicates that around 4,600 teachers were outside the State, while maintaining their registered teacher status in Ireland, indicating an intention to teach in Ireland.
An analysis of payroll data from November 2025 shows there are over 75,000 teachers employed in schools across the country and over 98% of allocated teaching posts are filled nationwide.
Teaching is an attractive profession, and there are a significant number of newly qualified teachers graduating annually. Over 3,600 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2025 and CAO data shows a consistent demand for undergraduate ITE programmes. Salaries are competitive, starting at €45,833 (primary) and €47,417 (post-primary) and rising to €84,412 and €86,265 under the current pay deal. Few teachers resign, with less than 3% of the teaching workforce resigning or retiring annually from contracted teaching posts.
While the majority of allocated teaching posts are filled, certain schools experience ongoing challenges in recruiting teachers. Attracting qualified teachers, whether working overseas or not, is required to address teacher supply issues, and several measures are already in place to support teachers who are working abroad to return to Ireland.
The Department of Education and Youth currently has a scheme in place which allows for teachers who work in an Oireachtas funded teaching post to apply for incremental credit with respect to previous teaching service which they accrued while teaching outside of Ireland. The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service both within and outside the EU.
In addition, my department recently approved regulations to allow teachers who qualified overseas to undertake their induction in the State. This will help to encourage teachers abroad to take up teaching roles in Ireland.
Turas Abhaile is an initiative of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), which has assisted teachers based abroad to return to teach in Ireland since September 2019. Turas Abhaile matches teachers with specific vacancies and participating schools to facilitate online interviews to suit the preferences of candidates.
This Government has implemented several measures to address teacher supply issues more generally that have led to:
- an increase of 20% in initial teacher education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and
- an over 30% increase in the number of teachers registered with the Teaching Council since 2017.
My Department recently published revised arrangements for the award of a Contract of Indefinite Duration to teachers; teachers taking up their first contract in a viable post will be eligible for a permanent position after one year, subject to successful re-appointment through a competitive process.
A number of measures have been introduced to address subject-specific teacher shortages applicable at post-primary level:
- STEM Bursary: a €2,000 annual bursary for student teachers in STEM fields during the final two years of their undergraduate teacher education, with a requirement to complete at least 2 years of teaching post-qualification in a recognised post-primary school.
- Upskilling programmes: free upskilling programmes for teachers are offered in high-demand subjects: Irish, French, politics & society, computer science, maths, physics and Spanish.
A comprehensive workforce plan for the education sector, a commitment under the Programme for Government, is in development. Additionally, a project focused on strategic workforce planning for teachers in Ireland, led by UNESCO and supported by the EU Commission, has published recommendations for addressing the main factors affecting teacher supply in Ireland. The project report, which was launched on 7th September 2026, can be accessed online at the following link unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000399288.locale=en
Recommendations include measures focused on subject-specific shortages at post-primary, substitute teachers, special education, Irish Medium Education, DEIS primary, cost-of-living concerns, data management and diversity in the profession.
240. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of post-primary teaching positions that required re-advertisement because a suitable candidate was not appointed following an initial recruitment process in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by county, subject and school type where available; the number advertised on three or more occasion. [66329/26]
View answerThis Government is committed to ensuring that every child has a positive school experience, with access to qualified and engaged teachers who are dedicated to supporting their learning.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In that regard, there are more than 3,700 individual employers (boards of management of primary schools and post-primary schools, as well as ETBs).
As of November 2025, there were 34,626 full-time equivalent teachers employed in post-primary schools across the country and over 99% of allocated posts were filled.
While the Department does not have the data for the number of unfilled post-primary teaching posts in the 2025/2026 school year, by subject, data published by the Department for the vacancies by subject for the 2023/2024 school year is available through the Survey of Teacher Unmet Demand in Post Primary Schools 2023/24 report, at this link assets.gov.ie/static/documents/f30264cc/Survey_of_Unmet_Demand_School_year_2023_24.pdf.
The table below shows the number of post-primary teacher vacancies identified in each county, from 2021/22 to 2025/26.
|
County |
Unused Allocations 21/22 |
Unused Allocations 22/23 |
Unused Allocations 23/24 |
Unused Allocations 24/25 |
Unused Allocations 25/26 |
|
Carlow |
9.4 |
2.3 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
0.0 |
|
Cavan |
9.5 |
10.2 |
8.3 |
5.9 |
5.8 |
|
Clare |
21.0 |
10.7 |
7.6 |
7.6 |
9.9 |
|
Cork |
91.1 |
62.9 |
52.5 |
47.6 |
39.7 |
|
Donegal |
31.4 |
23.5 |
24.6 |
30.0 |
24.8 |
|
Dublin |
230.9 |
151.3 |
179.7 |
134.0 |
116.0 |
|
Galway |
45.4 |
23.7 |
14.2 |
22.3 |
19.2 |
|
Kerry |
27.4 |
24.3 |
21.2 |
19.8 |
14.5 |
|
Kildare |
47.6 |
22.1 |
19.1 |
18.7 |
12.3 |
|
Kilkenny |
10.1 |
2.3 |
4.1 |
3.3 |
1.6 |
|
Laois |
11.8 |
2.1 |
0.6 |
2.1 |
4.5 |
|
Leitrim |
2.1 |
1.7 |
3.3 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
|
Limerick |
24.3 |
9.9 |
9.7 |
0.0 |
5.8 |
|
Longford |
9.1 |
7.0 |
2.3 |
3.2 |
3.9 |
|
Louth |
31.0 |
17.7 |
15.0 |
9.7 |
12.3 |
|
Mayo |
21.2 |
16.7 |
9.7 |
10.6 |
14.6 |
|
Meath |
23.7 |
20.0 |
15.9 |
12.3 |
13.3 |
|
Monaghan |
9.7 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
|
Offaly |
6.8 |
6.2 |
4.6 |
1.7 |
6.7 |
|
Roscommon |
8.3 |
4.3 |
7.4 |
7.0 |
4.2 |
|
Sligo |
8.1 |
2.5 |
6.3 |
1.7 |
5.8 |
|
Tipperary |
25.6 |
9.9 |
17.9 |
16.4 |
9.0 |
|
Waterford |
18.0 |
9.0 |
9.4 |
12.6 |
14.1 |
|
Westmeath |
14.0 |
5.7 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
8.9 |
|
Wexford |
26.4 |
10.3 |
16.8 |
16.8 |
17.1 |
|
Wicklow |
20.7 |
21.1 |
19.2 |
16.5 |
15.4 |
Please note that ETB post-primary schools are not included in the above table.
A number of measures have been introduced to address subject-specific teacher shortages:
- STEM Bursary: a €2,000 annual bursary for student teachers in STEM fields, including maths, chemistry, physics, biology, computer science and engineering, during the final two years of their undergraduate teacher education, with a requirement to complete at least 2 years of teaching post-qualification in a recognised post-primary school.
- Upskilling programmes: upskilling programmes for teachers are offered in high-demand subjects: Irish, French, politics & society, computer science, maths, physics and Spanish. These flexible programmes, free to registered teachers, boost teachers’ employment opportunities while addressing subject-specific teacher shortages.
To address teacher supply issues more generally, the Government has implemented several measures that have led to:
- an increase of 20% in initial teacher education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and
- an over 30% increase in the number of teachers registered with the Teaching Council since 2017.
My Department has recently published revised arrangements for the award of a Contract of Indefinite Duration (CID) to teachers; teachers taking up their first contract in a viable post will be eligible for a permanent position after one year, subject to successful re-appointment through a competitive process.
Recently regulations were approved to allow teachers who qualified overseas to undertake their induction in the State and incremental credit is also available to teachers returning from abroad, depending on the teaching experience gained.
A comprehensive workforce plan for the education sector, a commitment under the Programme for Government, is in development. Additionally, a project focused on strategic workforce planning for teachers in Ireland, led by UNESCO and supported by the EU Commission, has published recommendations for addressing the main factors affecting teacher supply in Ireland. The project report, which was launched on 7th September 2026, can be accessed online at the following link unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000399288.locale=en.
Recommendations include measures focused on subject-specific shortages at post-primary, substitute teachers, special education, Irish Medium Education, DEIS primary, cost-of-living concerns, data management and diversity in the profession.
241. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide guidance to the parents of a child with additional needs who is experiencing difficulties in their current school placement (details supplied); the options open to the parents to engage with the school in the best interests of the child; and the school's responsibility and duty of care in such a case. [66368/26]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. It does so through a network of special educational needs organisers (SENOs).
It is important to note, that the Department of Education and Youth does not have a role in investigating or responding to parental complaints of this nature as it is not directly involved in the day-to-day management of schools. The Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and the department, or the Inspectorate does not have the power to instruct schools to follow a particular course of direction with regard to individual complaints. The department’s role in such circumstances is to clarify how complaints against a school or a member of its staff may be progressed.
In this regard, the agreed procedures in place at school level should be used and the complaint should be directed to the school principal in the first instance and then to the Board of Management, if necessary. If the family remain dissatisfied after they have brought their concern to the attention of the school’s board of management, they may write to the school patron/trustee.
Parents may also refer a complaint to The Office of the Ombudsman for Children who may independently investigate complaints about schools recognised by the Department of Education and Youth, provided the parent has firstly and fully followed the school's complaints procedures.
Local SENOs remain available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to achieve their full potential.
242. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any back up plans in relation to the provision of school places in Cherrywood, County Dublin if a new school is not in place for September 2028 when it is known that demand will increase due to significant population growth in this area (details supplied). [66364/26]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority of mine.
The school building project referred to by the Deputy will provide a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school building and accommodation, including classrooms for children with special educational needs. The project, which has planning permission, will be delivered under my Department's Design and Build Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender, and construction.
Further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of the planned new school taking into account a number of factors including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the Cherrywood SDZ area, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the school planning area.
My department is satisfied that existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the school planning area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new post primary school has been deferred.
There are 7 Post Primary schools in the Sallynoggin_Killiney school planning area. Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School, is currently located in Cherrywood, in an interim capacity. There are 3 fee charging post primary schools in this school planning area. Data available to my department for the 2025/26 academic year highlights that over 15% of first year places were unfilled across the school planning areas of Sallynoggin_Killiney.
Analysis of data in my department indicates that there is capacity in existing schools in the school planning area, and in the neighbouring school planning areas.
Earlier this year my department published the €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. This NDP Sectoral Plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard there will be a strong special education dimension to project rollout.
The first tranche of 105 school building projects includes 80 large scale and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs particularly to support special education needs provision.
I recognise that there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects. As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender.
The department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers. Contact details are available on Tusla’s website
In accordance with the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted.
I want to assure the Deputy that my department will keep the school place requirements in Sallynoggin_Killiney school planning area (which includes Cherrywood) under review.
243. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a timeline for the development of a new secondary school in Cherrywood, County Dublin; and if she is concerned that the significant growth in population in this area is not being match with school places. [66363/26]
View answer244. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the development of a new secondary school in Cherrywood, County Dublin; and if she is concerned that the significant growth in population in this area is not being match with school places. [66362/26]
View answer245. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider providing for an Irish medium secondary school in Cherrywood, County Dublin; and if any assessment of demand has been carried out. [66360/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 244 and 245 together.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My department 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 significantly impact the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, the department factors in planning and construction activity in the residential sector.
This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with proactive engagement with local authorities. 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.
Since 2011, new arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by the department. 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.
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.
These arrangements also give an opportunity to patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental patronage and language preferences and an analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established. This approach is underpinned by a 2011 government decision.
The planned establishment of a new post-primary school in 2021 to specifically serve the Cherrywood SDZ which is in the Sallynoggin/Killiney/Dun Laoghaire Rathdown school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise.
Further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of the planned new school taking into account a number of factors including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the Cherrywood SDZ area, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the school planning area.
My department is satisfied that existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the school planning area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new post primary school has been deferred.
The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the Cherrywood SDZ area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements in the area.
