90. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether in light of a new report (details supplied), which shows that only 40% of children living in Dublin’s south-west inner city attend secondary school locally, the lowest proportion of any urban LEA in the country, the commitments she and her Department will make towards the establishment of a new secondary school, as has been requested by many families over the past several years; the criteria for her decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35592/26]

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.

While the department’s school planning areas are very useful for planning purposes at a national level, in dense urban areas such as Dublin City it is necessary for the department to take a broader perspective in the assessment of school accommodation requirements, particularly at post primary level.  In city areas there can be a high degree of inward and outward mobility of children between school planning areas, often linked with public transport and active travel routes, and parents are free to apply to enrol their children in any school, whether that is in the School Planning Area in which they reside or not.

If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools.  The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth.  In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (Aonad) in an English-medium school.

Dublin south- west inner city forms part of the Dublin_8 SPA and is served by 5 existing local post primary schools C.B.S James Street, Christian Brothers, Synge St, St Patricks Cathedral Grammar School, Presentation College and Mercy Secondary School. These schools have a total enrolment of over 1,400 pupils, which represents c. 70% of the post primary school going population of the area. These schools are under subscribed and have a total capacity to enroll up to 1,600 pupils, which represents c. 80% of the post primary school going population of the area. Additional capacity has been provided in post primary schools in neighbouring areas to cater from the balance of the demand from Dublin 8.

According to preliminary enrolment data, approximately 12% of first year places in Dublin 8 post primary schools remained unfilled for 2025/26. Some families are choosing to enrol their children in post primary schools outside the Dublin 8 school planning area. Pupils are enrolled in Clogher Road Community College, a multi-denominational school that is operated under the joint patronage of  CDETB and Educate Together.  This school’s admission policy includes provision for Dublin 8 pupils. The school is located less than 1km from the Dublin 8 School Planning Area boundary.  Also, Kylemore College in Ballyfermot includes provision for Dublin 8 pupils in its admission policy and is also located less than 1km from the Dublin 8 school planning area border on the Inchicore side.

The capacity of Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary School has recently been expanded to cater for more than 1,000 pupils, with the completion of its new school building. This post primary school will be enrolling many pupils living in the south-west inner city area going forward.

The demand for school places are kept under review. Recent demographic analysis has determined that there is not a sufficient unmet demand in the area to establish a new post primary school.

Ensuring sufficient school capacity is a priority for the department, and the school place needs in Dublin’s south-west inner city will continue to be kept under review.  Additionally, the department will continue to work with the school authorities and patrons to support any required increase in capacity at schools in the area.