Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
80. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are any current or proposed plans for new childcare facilities, Naíonraí, Gaelscoileanna, or multi-denominational primary schools in the Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 area. [22552/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department supports and encourages the use of school buildings for community and recreational purposes, where feasible, including childcare and after school uses.
My Department has published the Procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of school hours. These Procedures are available for each school to refer to for guidance in relation to the use of school buildings outside of school hours, including any planned pre school, after school and creche arrangements.
However, the decision on the use of school property is a matter for the property owner taking into consideration the current and future requirements of the school, the students and the staff. Also it is important that any proposed arrangement does not impede upon the future development of the school, given that the priority for schools is educational provision for its pupils.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place. The arrangements for new school provision give an opportunity to patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage and language (English or Irish) of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental preferences and an analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established.
On 4 November 2025, my department published a 'Framework and Action Plan for Delivery of Increased Choice for Parents on Education Provision at Primary Level'. The initial focus of the framework and action plan was an online, school-specific survey. This Primary School Survey launched on 4 November and ran to 16 December 2025.
The survey, the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland, was school specific and through its results, aims to assess parental demand and preferences for different types of primary school provision including patronage/ethos, co-education or single-sex school provision and language of instruction (English or Irish).
The results of the survey will help my department to plan how education at primary level is provided. Initial high-level summary results focusing on response rates will be published in early 2026, with a Q2 2026 timeframe for school-level data.
The survey is not a final step. Where there is clear support from parents and guardians for change to be considered, a further process of inclusive dialogue will begin.
