Thursday, 24 Oct 2024

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (194)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [43811/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide 2 mainstream classrooms, 2 classroom Special Education Needs base and 2 Special Education Tuition rooms. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery.

Following receipt of the school authority's Design Team's early (stage 1) architectural design report, officials in my department advised the school authority in January 2024 to submit a revised report to address various recommendations. This revised Stage 1 addendum report was received in September 2024 and this is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Once this review is complete my department will be in touch with the school authority directly on how best to progress this important project. All projects, including this one, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (195)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

195. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [43812/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The project for the school referred to by the is part of my Department's construction programme and will be delivered as part of a campus project which will provide a new 8 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs for Dunshaughlin CNS and a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs for Coláiste Rioga.

The project currently has planning permission and is, along with a number of other projects, being brought to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s project manager. The process of appointing the Design Team from the Department’s Frameworks of Consultants was completed in September 2023 and the project is currently close to completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation. The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3, tender stage.

Planning permission for Dunshaughlin CNS was granted on the 04/11/2020. In the event that an extension to the current planning permission is required, my Department's project manager will arrange for the preparation of the necessary documentation for same in due course.

The project is currently anticipated to progress to tender in Q4 2024 subject to relevant Stage 2B approvals. Projects are subject to relevant due diligence at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.

My Department will continue to liaise with the school and patron body in relation to interim accommodation requirements and provide any updates in relation to progress on the school building project.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (196)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

196. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [43813/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, where the design team secure all statutory approvals and prepare the suite of tender documents.

The Design Team have recently made a revised application for statutory approvals and are completing any necessary revisions to the Stage 2b report, which will then be submitted to my Department for review.

Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) Submission, the Design Team will then be requested to confirm to my Department in writing that their tender documents are in order and comply with all current Building and Procurement regulatory guidelines, and Department Technical Guidance documents, before the project is eligible to progress to tender stage.Department officials and the Programme Manager will keep the school authority informed in relation to project progression.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (197)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

197. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review an urgent case (details supplied); if her Department can overturn this decision given the extenuating circumstances in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43814/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria.

The school referred to by the Deputy was successful in their appeal to the March meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and was informed that the additional post was provisional on the school achieving an enrolment of 78 on 30 September 2024. The school did not achieve the required enrolment and so the school was informed that the post would be suppressed at the end of October, in accordance with the arrangements for provisional posts set out in the primary staffing arrangements.

The school submitted a further appeal to the October meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board but the appeal was deemed ineligible as the school’s appeal did not meet the eligibility criteria for appeal. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The primary staffing schedule is a long-standing feature of the primary allocation system which ensures fairness and transparency in the allocation of mainstream class teachers across our primary schools. It is an important feature of the primary schedule that staffing levels remain aligned with actual student numbers in schools. The staffing appeals process is in place to allow schools the opportunity to appeal their teacher allocation, ensuring fairness and consistency.

Education and Training Provision

Ceisteanna (198)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

198. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the total unit cost for the provision of education in alternative education settings within the State, excluding Youthreach provision; how this compares to the total unit cost for the provision of education in traditional mainstream education settings; the level of additional onsite supports, such as counselling for students, within alternative education settings compared to traditional mainstream education settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43815/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

While my Department primarily supports mainstream schools, it also provides funding for a small number of alternative education settings that provide education for a small cohort of children and young people, who for various reasons, have disengaged from mainstream education.

This provision is an alternative, when all other supports, options and pathways have been tried and have not proved successful in maintaining the young person’s engagement with mainstream education. These settings vary in structure and design and children and young people are referred from a range of sources including the Education Welfare Service, the child or young person’s mainstream school and parents or guardians.

In 2023, my Department provided the following funding to alternative education settings:

Name of Setting	Non-Pay Grant	Pay Grant/ETB Co-operation hours from Department
Cork Life Centre	€177,500.00	2,600 hrs
City Motor Sports, Dublin 8	€118,475.00	Pay Grant - € 112.053.00 to end of September
Carline Learning Centre, Lucan	€175,000.00	Pay Grant - € 133,860.00 to end of September
Inspire, Dublin 8	€29,611.00	3,306 hrs
Colaiste Sliabh na mBan, Clonmel	€ 56,000.00	15,043 hrs
St Anthony’s Athlone	€ 19,500.00	3,000 hrs
St John's Glasnevin	€ 51,376.00	Nil

It is not possible to provide a total unit cost for the provision of education in these alternative education settings as many have additional funding sources.

In addition to the above , there are 5 Youth Encounter Projects, located in Dublin (3), Cork (1) and Limerick (1). Youth Encounter Projects are recognised primary special schools by my Department and cater for up to 25 children and young people who have disengaged from mainstream education.

Special Educational Needs

Ceisteanna (199)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

199. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the SENO recommendation for two ASD classes in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43817/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide and have advised that the school opened two autism classes in September 2023. I can also confirm that the school have submitted an Additional School Accommodation (ASA) application to my department's Planning and Building Unit. This application is currently under consideration and officials in my department have been liaising with the school regarding their application.

Over 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in recent years, in this time 11 new special schools have also been established and many more expanded. For this school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,336.

48 of these classes are in County Roscommon, 7 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 6 at primary level and 1 at post-primary level.

Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide and it is estimated that a similar level of provision will be needed each year for the next 3 years.

The NCSE have recruited additional special education needs organisers (SENOs), advisors and team managers. SENOs play an important role in ensuring there is adequate special educational provision within local areas. The total number of SENOs has increased from 65 to 120. These SENOs are currently visiting schools to conduct planning meetings. The NCSE plan to conduct up to 800 of these visits by the end of this month. These visits will be key in terms of forward planning for the 2025/26 school year.

My department and the NCSE are engaging with schools and school management bodies in relation to the provision of future special classes and are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (200)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

200. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) will not lose a teaching post in view of the extreme difficulties such a loss would create for the arrangement of classes, resulting in a very high pupil-teacher ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43820/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain published criteria.

The school referred to by the Deputy was successful in their appeal to the March meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and was informed that the additional post was provisional on the school achieving an enrolment of 78 on 30 September 2024. The school did not achieve the required enrolment and so the school was informed that the post would be suppressed at the end of October, in accordance with the arrangements for provisional posts set out in the primary staffing arrangements.

The school submitted a further appeal to the October meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board but the appeal was deemed ineligible as the school’s appeal did not meet the eligibility criteria for appeal. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The primary staffing schedule is a long-standing feature of the primary allocation system which ensures fairness and transparency in the allocation of mainstream class teachers across our primary schools. It is an important feature of the primary schedule that staffing levels remain aligned with actual student numbers in schools. The staffing appeals process is in place to allow schools the opportunity to appeal their teacher allocation, ensuring fairness and consistency.

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (201)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

201. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a proposal is progressed without further delay which would ensure the best school provision for an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43821/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department has received a request from the patrons of the schools in question, to amalgamate the two schools.

In November 2023, the Department issued a letter of approval to the Patron for the amalgamation to proceed.

The Department’s technical team have carried out an assessment of the schools and the proposed new site. The consideration of the accommodation requirements for the schools in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding.

As the Deputy will be aware the decision making authority for school amalgamations belongs to the patron or trustees of a school, and this is subject to the approval of the Minister for Education. Any proposed change must involve extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.

The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for the Department. Officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the schools in question and the wider area for 2024/25 and future years.

Officials from the Department are available to discuss the proposed amalgamation with the Patron body.

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (202)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

202. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43848/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

My 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.

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.

A Senior Educational Welfare Officer has contacted the parent and the parent has confirmed that the student has a school place. The parent has been advised that there are closer schools to where they are residing, and relevant application forms have been forwarded to the parent for completion. The parent has advised that it is their preference to continue with the current arrangements until such time as a place becomes available in their locality.

School Enrolments

Ceisteanna (203)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to indicate the preparations currently in hand or anticipated in respect of the provision of additional school places and new accommodation as required in respect of the primary and post-primary schools in Maynooth, County Kildare, including a Gaelcholáiste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43888/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I 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 for the Department of Education.

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements, there has been a continued growth in enrolments throughout many School Planning Areas in North Kildare. In response, the Department has invested significantly in schools in County Kildare over recent years. Since 2020, over €310m has been invested in schools in County Kildare. This investment has focused on provision of additional capacity to cater for its increasing population and there are further significant projects in our pipeline including for the North Kildare area.

At a national level, 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, first year enrolments nationally are expected to have peaked in the 2023/24 school year and are now beginning to decline. Across North Kildare there are almost 250 more first year places available for the 2025/26 school year than sixth class children.

Nevertheless, the Department has been putting in place a number of measures to support parents and post-primary schools in North Kildare, including Maynooth, with a view to helping the admissions process for 2025/26 run as smoothly as possible.

Firstly, the Department has written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.

Secondly, the Department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.

Furthermore, the successful data-sharing arrangements that were implemented for the 2024/25 admissions process in areas of enrolment pressure will be put in place again for the 2025/26 process, including for areas in North Kildare. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the Department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place.

My department is progressing a number of primary and post primary school building projects in the Maynooth School Planning Area. These projects include new school building projects for Gaelcholáiste Maynooth, to provide for 350 pupils and two Special Educations classroom, which is currently at Stage 1 and Gaelscoil Ruairí, to provide eight mainstream classrooms and two Special Education classrooms, currently at Stage 2b. In addition, the extension project at Presentation Girls Primary and recently completed projects will increase capacity in primary and post primary schools in Maynooth. As the Deputy will be aware, new school buildings for Maynooth CC and Maynooth Post Primary School have also recently been completed.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the 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.

My department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Maynooth, as with other areas across the country, under review.

School Enrolments

Ceisteanna (204)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to indicate the preparations currently in hand or anticipated in respect of the provision of additional school places and new accommodation as required in respect of the primary and post-primary schools in Celbridge, County Kildare including the three schools project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43889/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I 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 for the Department of Education.

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements, there has been a continued growth in enrolments throughout many School Planning Areas in North Kildare. In response, the Department has invested significantly in schools in County Kildare over recent years. Since 2020, over €310m has been invested in schools in County Kildare. This investment has focused on provision of additional capacity to cater for its increasing population and there are further significant projects in our pipeline including for the North Kildare area.

At a national level, 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, first year enrolments nationally are expected to have peaked in the 2023/24 school year and are now beginning to decline. Across North Kildare there are almost 250 more first year places available for the 2025/26 school year than sixth class children.

Nevertheless, the Department has been putting in place a number of measures to support parents and post-primary schools in North Kildare, including Celbridge, with a view to helping the admissions process for 2025/26 run as smoothly as possible.

Firstly, the Department has written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.

Secondly, the Department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.

Furthermore, the successful data-sharing arrangements that were implemented for the 2024/25 admissions process in areas of enrolment pressure will be put in place again for the 2025/26 process, including for areas in North Kildare. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the Department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place.

Scoil Naomh Padraig, Celbridge, Co Kildare has been approved for a large-scale project on a greenfield site to enter the Department’s pipeline of new school buildings to provide for a 16 classroom school plus provision for Special Education Needs classrooms. The project has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery. The project is located on a shared education campus and is part of a bundled school building programme. The NDFA have appointed a Design Team and the Department is awaiting the submission of the initial architectural designs.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the 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.

My department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Celbridge, as with other areas across the country, under review.

School Enrolments

Ceisteanna (205)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the preparations currently in hand or anticipated in respect of the provision of additional school places and new accommodation as required in respect of the primary and post-primary schools in Naas, County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43890/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I 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 for the Department of Education.

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements, there has been a continued growth in enrolments throughout many School Planning Areas in North Kildare. In response, the Department has invested significantly in schools in County Kildare over recent years. Since 2020, over €310m has been invested in schools in County Kildare. This investment has focused on provision of additional capacity to cater for its increasing population and there are further significant projects in our pipeline including for the North Kildare area.

At a national level, 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, first year enrolments nationally are expected to have peaked in the 2023/24 school year and are now beginning to decline. Across North Kildare there are almost 250 more first year places available for the 2025/26 school year than sixth class children.

Nevertheless, the Department has been putting in place a number of measures to support parents and post-primary schools, including in North Kildare, with a view to helping the admissions process for 2025/26 run as smoothly as possible.

Firstly, the Department has written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.

Secondly, the Department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.

Furthermore, the successful data-sharing arrangements that were implemented for the 2024/25 admissions process in areas of enrolment pressure will be put in place again for the 2025/26 process, including for areas in North Kildare. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the Department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place.

My Department is progressing a number of primary and post primary school building projects in the Naas SPA. Including new school building projects for Mercy Convent and St. Corban's NS. These projects are currently Stage 4 and Stage 2b. In addition, there is an extension project for St. Mary's Girls Post Primary to increase capacity to LTPE of 1,000. This project is at Stage 2b. New school buildings have also recently been completed for Naas CC and Piper's Hill CC.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the 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.

My Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Naas, as with other areas across the country, under review including by advancing required school building projects.

School Enrolments

Ceisteanna (206)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to indicate the preparations currently in hand or anticipated in respect of the provision of additional school places and new accommodation as required in respect of the primary and post-primary schools in Clane, County Kildare, given the urgent necessity to ensure adequate provision for school enrolments in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43891/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I 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 for the Department of Education.

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

In line with the Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements, there has been a continued growth in enrolments throughout many School Planning Areas in North Kildare. In response, the Department has invested significantly in schools in County Kildare over recent years. Since 2020, over €310m has been invested in schools in County Kildare. This investment has focused on provision of additional capacity to cater for its increasing population and there are further significant projects in our pipeline including for the North Kildare area.

At a national level, 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, first year enrolments nationally are expected to have peaked in the 2023/24 school year and are now beginning to decline. Across North Kildare there are almost 250 more first year places available for the 2025/26 school year than sixth class children.

Nevertheless, the Department has been putting in place a number of measures to support parents and post-primary schools in North Kildare, including Clane, with a view to helping the admissions process for 2025/26 run as smoothly as possible.

Firstly, the Department has written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.

Secondly, the Department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.

Furthermore, the successful data-sharing arrangements that were implemented for the 2024/25 admissions process in areas of enrolment pressure will be put in place again for the 2025/26 process, including for areas in North Kildare. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the Department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place.

My department is progressing a number of primary and post primary school building projects in the Prosperous_Clane School Planning Area. These projects include a new school building project for St. Farnan’s Post Primary school to increase capacity to 1000 pupils, existing PE hall to be refurbished and four Special Education classrooms which is currently at Stage 2b. Additional modular accommodation is also being provided at this school to address short-term capacity requirements in the area. The project at Scoil Mhuire Community School to provide two Science labs and shared preparation area, five mainstream classrooms and four Special Education classrooms is also at Stage 2b. In addition, the new school building for St. Patrick's BNS will increase capacity.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the 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.

My department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Clane, as with other areas across the country, under review.

School Enrolments

Ceisteanna (207)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

207. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to indicate the preparations currently in hand or anticipated in respect of the provision of additional school places and new accommodation as required in respect of the primary and post-primary schools in Kilcock, County Kildare, given the urgent necessity to ensure adequate provision for school enrolments in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43892/24]