Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
596. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to address the issue of capacity in all the primary schools in Naas, which are now full for the upcoming academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11712/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a robust, evidence based, forward planning process for monitoring the current and projected future demographic demand for school places. This forward planning process analyses the demand for school places at School Planning Area level and also at a more granular settlement level to allow the department to respond to local demands.
The data used to inform the demographic demand analysis includes enrolment data, child benefit data, census & CSO data and information of planned new residential developments. Enrolment and child benefit data is updated annually and geocoded to the 19 thousand small areas across the Country. This allows the department to analyse the population of school going children and the schools they attend at a granular level.
There has been significant new residential development in Naas. Against this background, the demand for primary school capacity has been anticipated and responded to with the establishment of a new 32 classroom co-educational primary school in Naas.
While there continues to be strong junior infant place demand in Naas, the department’s analysis demonstrates that there continues to be capacity in junior infant classes to meet this demand. It must be noted that many primary schools in Naas did not fill in September 2025 and a number of places remain vacant.
My department has engaged with the schools in Naas in respect to their admissions process and is satisfied that there will be sufficient capacity in junior infant class to meet the September 2026 demand.
My department continues to invest in primary school capacity in Naas with the recent completion of the 32 classroom co-educational Mercy Convent primary school in Naas and the planned redevelopment of St. Corban's National School.
The demand for primary school places in Naas will continue to be kept under review, in conjunction with the monitoring of new and planned new residential developments, in consultation with Kildare County Council.
