Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
346. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children eligible for junior infant places residing within the Castleknock, Dublin 15, school planning area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3171/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that requirement for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas 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.
Child benefit data is made available by the Department of Social Protection which is used as the basis for the projections of the future demand for junior infants in a local area. This data is geocoded which provides the geographic view of current & future school place demand.
According to the latest child benefit data, the estimated number of children of junior infant age residing in the Castleknock_D15 school planning area was 127 as of September 2025, with a projected increase to 143 by September 2026. There is capacity in the four primary schools in the Castleknock_D15 school planning area for over 184 pupils.
The requirement for junior infant places will be reviewed in line with updated child benefit data received from the Department of Social Protection.
