493. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the breakdown of the number of children in primary and secondary school who left the Donabate and Portrane peninsula to avail of school places outside the area in September 2025 and the schools attended, to also include children travelling to special schools. [64371/26]

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. The Donabate and Portrane peninsula are part of the Donabate school planning area.

Children residing within the Donabate school planning area also attend primary schools in the Swords, Malahide/Nevinstown, Rush & Lusk, and Balbriggan school planning areas, among other areas.

The largest cohort of post primary pupils residing in Donabate and attending schools outside the school planning area comprises approximately 117 girls attending a single-sex school in Balbriggan. A further approximately 82 students attend fee-charging schools across the country, while a smaller number attend Gaelcholáistí.

Population of special school going children & young people:

There are 29 children and young people residing within the Donabate school planning area who attend special schools. The majority attend special schools located in the Drogheda and Killester/Raheny/Clontarf school planning areas.

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.