1237. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on her Department's consideration of the need for a new post-primary school in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow; the current stage of her Department's assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56343/26]

I 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, the 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, the 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.

The Department’s demographic projections forecasts that there will be an increase in demand for post primary school places in the Kilcoole SPA until a peak in 2033. However, the projected increases in total enrolment have not yet materialised and enrolments have remained static. Demographic projections are kept under review on an ongoing basis.

My Department also conducts granular analysis below the level of a school planning area, particularly where a school planning area encompasses both high growth urban settlement areas and a more rural hinterland. Our analysis of school place demand in urban areas experiencing high population growth has indicated that demand in the urban area can be 10-20% higher than the school planning area as a whole.

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.

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.

An analysis of the population of Kilcoole school planning area shows that the number of children of post primary school age is less than 1,000. The longer-term demand for post primary school places is not projected increase significantly, even when new residential developments and overall population increases are taken into consideration.

The department is progressing a project at Coláiste Chraobh Aobhann in Kilcoole to cater for 1000 pupils. This school is located 4km from Newtownmountkennedy. The project was given approval to proceed to construction on 13/04/2026 and mobilisation on site started on 20/04/2026. The project will provide an extension and refurbishment to increase the capacity for a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils and will include a 6 class SEN base.

In addition, Greystones Community College was established as a regional solution to serve Kilcoole SPA and Greystones. Greystones Community College is 6.5km from Newtownmountkennedy. These schools will have sufficient capacity to cater for all pupils in Kilcoole SPA seeking a post primary school place, allowing for population growth due to planned new residential developments.

Accordingly, based on the analysis undertaken, it is deemed that there is not a sufficient unmet demand in the Newtownmountkennedy and wider area to establish a new post primary school.