562. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has completed a strategic review of primary and post-primary school capacity across north Louth, having regard to the substantial population growth experienced in recent years and the further housing development expected; the additional capacity identified as necessary; and the actions and timelines arising from that review. [65094/26]

As the Deputy is aware, my Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.

There are six school planning areas in county Louth: Ardee, Bush, Dundalk, Dunleer, Drogheda (part of) and Carrickmacross (part of). At both primary school and post primary school level projected population, Junior Infant and First year enrolment is remaining steady or projected to decrease for county Louth.

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.

The Department had engagements with Louth County Council in preparation for their variation to the current County Development Plan in respect to new housing targets, and the associated impact on the demand for school places, and made a submission in July of this year. Engagements are ongoing with Local Authority as they prepare for a new County Development Plan.

In addition to the Department’s longer-term planning for school infrastructure, an annual school capacity management process is undertaken to ensure that sufficient school places are available to meet demand each year at both primary and post-primary level, including for children and young people with special educational needs.

This process involves ongoing analysis of enrolment trends, demographic data and projected intake at school planning area level, as well as direct engagement with schools, patrons and management bodies. Each school planning area is kept under review on an ongoing basis, with particular regard to projected pupil intake, existing school capacity and emerging enrolment pressures.

Where potential capacity pressures are identified, the Department engages directly with the relevant schools and patrons, including through data-sharing arrangements where appropriate, to better understand application patterns and overlapping demand. This supports timely interventions to ensure sufficient school places are available for the forthcoming school year.

As the Deputy may be aware, 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, 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.

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.

My Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has provided over €130 million in capital funding for Louth schools.

Over this period, a total of 35 schools have been upgraded through provision of either a new school building, extension, modular accommodation or climate pathfinder projects.

6 school projects to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the NDP Implementation Plan.

There are currently 4 large-scale, extension, modular or climate pathfinder projects in Louth under construction.

There are also 4 projects underway through the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.

In addition, since 2020 a total of 80 special classes have been sanctioned in Louth, of which 12 were sanctioned for September 2026.

The current status of all projects is set out under item number ten at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/building-works-for-the-construction-extension-and-refurbishment-of-schools/.

This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.

I want to assure the Deputy that my Department will keep the school place requirements in Co. Louth school planning area under review.