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 for the Department.
My Department is aware of enrolment pressures in some areas across Co Kildare including Naas. My Department has been working very closely with patrons, management bodies and schools to work solutions in the small number of cases where additional places are required for the coming school year. As part of this engagement with patrons, the Department is also collaboratively planning towards 2025/26 and future years, as part of forward planning generally.
More than €280 million has been invested in school infrastructure in County Kildare since 2020 alone, reflecting a strong focus on alignment of school place availability with the significant residential development across the county. This investment includes recently completed new school buildings in Maynooth and Naas. Additionally, further new school buildings and extensions are at construction or planned, including in Prosperous, Kilcock, Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Naas and Clane.
I recently announced the progression of the “Project Boyne” bundle of six large-scale school building projects to tender this year, under a programme devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency. Three of the six projects are for County Kildare schools, namely Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen; Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge; and St Mary’s College, Naas.
Where expedited delivery of school accommodation is required, my Department also utilises its Modular Accommodation Framework. This is particularly beneficial in the context of the significant growth in requirements for provision for children with special educational needs.
In addition, a key focus of the Department is the utilisation of existing accommodation at schools to provide facilities for special classes. This approach also supports accelerated delivery and ensures that provision is well integrated within the mainstream school accommodation.
There are currently some 20 modular and reconfiguration projects ongoing across County Kildare to meet school place requirements.
Nationally, Ireland has been experiencing growth in overall post primary enrolments and this is projected to continue in many parts of the country for the next number of years before beginning to decline. However, there is significant regional and local variation in enrolment trends and projections, with residential construction activity one of the most significant influencing factors. This means that, as enrolments nationally begin to decline, we can still expect to see increasing demand at primary and post primary level in particular towns and areas. This is fully factored into my Department’s data analysis and strategic planning approach, including for Co Kildare.
The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for early years education outside the formal education system, including preschool provision through the free Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE).
I want to assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in the Naas school planning area for the 2024/25 school year and into the future, including by advancing required school building projects.
