Written answer
School Enrolments
Demand for primary school places is projected to decline in Carlingford and remain steady in Dundalk, although housing growth will increase pressure in parts of Dundalk. Additional accommodation is planned, with delivery monitored alongside development; Louth has received significant capital investment, including 35 upgraded schools and 80 sanctioned special classes since 2020.
566. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the current and projected primary and post-primary school enrolment figures for Dundalk south and Dundalk Carlingford local electoral areas, LEAs, school planning area for each of the next ten years; the number of available school places currently identified in the area; and the year in which demand is expected to exceed existing permanent capacity. [65090/26]
Comment on this
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 school planning areas in Dundalk South and Dundalk Carlingford LEAs are Bush and Dundalk where enrolment and population trends are detailed below.
The demand for primary school places in the Carlingford urban area is projected to decrease, while the demand in the Dundalk urban area is projected to remain steady. The demand for school places in parts of the Dundalk urban area is projected to increase due to the development of significant numbers of new houses. Additional school accommodation is planned for these areas to cater for the projected increased demand.
The pace of delivery of additional residential development, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data is being kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements. My Department continues to liaise with the Louth County Council in respect to the projected completion of planned residential developments.
The provision of school places and the operation of admissions processes are matters for individual school authorities, in line with their published admissions policies and relevant legislation. Schools determine their own intake numbers and maintain their own enrolment and waiting list information.
In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Information on first-year intake numbers for individual schools is published in each school’s Admissions Notice on their respective websites. National enrolment data is available on gov.ie.
Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth 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.