1463. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans in the short and medium term future to develop primary/secondary schools in Haggardstown, County Louth. [63202/26]

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.

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.

My department conducts demographic analysis at both school planning area and settlement level. More granular analysis is carried out in areas encompassing 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.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

• Provision of a new school or schools.

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.

Haggardstown is in the Dundalk school planning area. My department is aware of planned residential developments in this area and accordingly, primary schools have projects in train to increase provision as follows:

Scoil na gCreachacha Dubha RN 15285D of Sandy Lane, Blackrock Co Louth was recently approved a modular project for 5 Mainstream classrooms, 1 Special Education classroom and ancillary accommodation. My department has broadened its delivery streams and is utilizing Modern Methods of Construction, including Modular Accommodation, as well as traditional construction delivery methods. Modular accommodation has advantages in terms of overall timelines and also climate impact in that they do not generally have a reliance on fossil fuels. This project is at stage 1.

St Francis NS RN 20259G of Rock Road, Blackrock Co Louth has a traditional build project, devolved to the school authority for delivery for 8 Mainstream classrooms, 5 Special education classrooms and 2 Special education tuition rooms. This project is at stage 2a.

The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of further school place requirements.

The department will continue to liaise with Louth County Council in respect of their county development plan, and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas including Dundalk.