565. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the work that has been undertaken by her Department’s forward planning section to assess the effect of completed, approved and proposed residential development in Blackrock, Haggardstown and the wider south Dundalk area on future demand for primary and post-primary school places; and if the findings of this work will be published. [65091/26]

568. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will assess the need for a new post-primary school in the Dundalk south local electoral area, particularly to serve Blackrock, Haggardstown and surrounding communities, given the significant recent and projected increase in population and residential development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65088/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 568 together.

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.

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

Scoil na gCreachacha Dubha (15285D) Brief: 5 Mainstream classrooms, 1 Special Education classroom and ancillary accommodation. 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. Francis NS (20259G) Brief: 8 Mainstream classrooms, 5 Special education classrooms and 2 Special education tuition rooms. Stage 2A: Stage 2A involves the preliminary design, site surveys and cost estimates.

Pupils residing in the Blackrock and Haggardstown areas currently attend post-primary schools in Dundalk, where sufficient capacity is available to meet their educational needs.

There are eight post-primary schools in Dundalk serving the post-primary population of the Dundalk school planning area. Demand for post-primary school places has been projected to 2038 and is expected to increase by approximately 568 pupils (10%) compared with 2025 demand levels. These projections take account of significant planned housing growth in the area, including the delivery of more than 7,250 additional homes over the period.

The projected increase in demand can be accommodated within the existing post-primary school network through available capacity and current capital projects. Accordingly, there is no identified requirement to establish a new post-primary school within the Dundalk school planning area.

Projects to provide additional accommodation at post primary schools in the Dundalk school planning area include:

De La Salle College (63891T) Brief: 2x Special education classroom, 2x Mainstream classroom, 1x UAWC. 1x Graphics room, 1x Special education classroom (Prefab). Stage 3: Stage 3 is the instruction for the project to proceed to tender.

St. Vincent's Secondary School (63900R) Brief: 4x Science laboratory and 2x Prep area, 1x Technology room and Prep area, 1x DCG room, 1x Multimedia room, 1x Special education tuition room, 20x Mainstream classroom, 6x Special education classroom, Canteen. GP Store and Servery. Stage 2b: Stage 2B is the developed design & lodgement of planning permission.

St. Mary's College (63890R) Brief: 1 x SEN Repurposing of DCG room and relocation of displaced DCG room. Project Brief Stage: this includes determining the project brief and schedule of accommodation.

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.