1225. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on work her Department has undertaken to explore the possibility of providing a secondary school in a town in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60416/26]

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.

Sixmilebridge is located in the Shannon School Planning Area. The two post-primary schools serving the Shannon School Planning Area are located in Shannon town. The total post primary school going population of the Shannon School Planning area is circa 2,000; c. 830 of these pupils live in the Shannon urban area, c. 320 live in the Sixmilebridge urban area, and the balance c. 850 live in smaller urban areas and rural areas.

The two post primary schools in Shannon enrolled 1,559 pupils in the last academic year. The majority of these pupils came from the urban areas of Shannon and Sixmilebridge and surrounding rural areas. The net balance of the school place demand within the Shannon SPA attended post primary school in Ennis, Tulla & Limerick_City School Planning Areas. There is post primary school capacity in these areas to cater for this demand.

The department's demographic projections indicate that post-primary school place demand within the Shannon School Planning Area is expected to remain broadly stable over the coming years, taking account of planned and anticipated new housing completions in the area.

Accordingly, the Department is satisfied that sufficient post-primary school capacity exists, and will continue to exist, to accommodate current and projected demand across the Shannon School Planning Area, including demand arising from Sixmilebridge.

Based on current enrolments, projected demographic trends and planned housing delivery, the Department has not identified a requirement for an additional post-primary school in Sixmilebridge or elsewhere within the Shannon School Planning Area. Existing post-primary schools, together with planned capital investment projects, will continue to provide sufficient capacity to meet current and projected demand.

Details of existing capital projects in the Shannon School Planning Area:

Shannon Comprehensive School (81007U) Project Brief: 13x Mainstream classroom, 2x Construction studies room, 1x Engineering room, 2x Tech prep area, 2x Science lab and 1x prep area, 1x DCG room, 3x Project store, 1x Home economics room,1x Graphics room, 1x Multimedia room. 1x Pastoral office/ Special education tuition room, 2x Special education classroom. Stage 1. Stage 1 is the preliminary design stage where the design team in conjunction with the school authorities, will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief.

St. Caimin's Community School (91447I) Project Brief: 4x Special education classroom. Stage 4. Stage 4 is the signing of the letter of acceptance to the successful contractor and commencement on site.

Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The department will keep the assessment of school place demand under review and will continue to liaise with Clare County Council in respect housing construction activity and any variation to 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 Shannon.