Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
366. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to provide a secondary school in Newcastle, County Dublin, given the increase in population and demands on other schools in the area; and to give a statement on the matter. [68068/26]
View answerIn 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.
My department conducts demographic analysis at both school planning area and settlement level. More granular analysis is carried out in areas encompassing both high growth urban settlement areas and a more rural hinterland.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, where possible, is by 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
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 post primary school going pupils living in Newcastle attend school in Rathcoole and Citywest, amongst other areas. School capacity has been provided to accommodate these pupils in post primary schools in Rathcoole and Citywest. Capital projects are underway to expand the capacity of these post primary schools to cater for increased demand for school places due to internal migration driven by new residential developments.
The current and planned future capacity of the post primary schools in Rathcoole and Citywest have allowed for the demand from the Newcastle area.
There are currently no plans to establish a new post primary school in this area.
My department will continue to liaise with South Dublin County Council in respect of their County Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
