Written answer
Schools Building Projects
The Department has not estimated how many teachers returning from abroad would not qualify for incremental salary credit. Of 4,672 registered teachers with no recorded activity in Ireland, most were post-primary and aged 25–34, but overseas employment data is unavailable; eligibility for credit is assessed individually on application.
243. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a timeline for the development of a new secondary school in Cherrywood, County Dublin; and if she is concerned that the significant growth in population in this area is not being match with school places. [66363/26]
Comment on this
244. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the development of a new secondary school in Cherrywood, County Dublin; and if she is concerned that the significant growth in population in this area is not being match with school places. [66362/26]
Comment on this
245. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider providing for an Irish medium secondary school in Cherrywood, County Dublin; and if any assessment of demand has been carried out. [66360/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 244 and 245 together.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My department 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 significantly impact the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, the department factors in planning and construction activity in the residential sector.
This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with proactive engagement with local authorities. 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.
Since 2011, new arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by the department. 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.
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.
These arrangements also give an opportunity to patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental patronage and language preferences and an analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established. This approach is underpinned by a 2011 government decision.
The planned establishment of a new post-primary school in 2021 to specifically serve the Cherrywood SDZ which is in the Sallynoggin/Killiney/Dun Laoghaire Rathdown school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise.
Further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of the planned new school taking into account a number of factors including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the Cherrywood SDZ area, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the school planning area.
My department is satisfied that existing demand can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in the school planning area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new post primary school has been deferred.
The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the Cherrywood SDZ area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements in the area.