Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The permanent building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school with accommodation, including four classrooms for children with special educational needs. The project is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme and is currently at tender stage.

The Invitation to Tender issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects issued to my Department's Framework of Design & Build Contractors. The tender process currently takes approximately 8-12 months. Tender returns have been received and are currently being evaluated.

Once a contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction will commence shortly thereafter and it is projected that construction will take some 68 weeks.

As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements.

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, the Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand. Additional provision is made as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.

The Department is aware of pressures at post primary level in the Greystones School Planning Area in part due to the reduction by some schools in the number of first year places being made available for 2024/25. A critical next step is to acquire clarity on the actual number of additional first year places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, including Greystones, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established. The Department is already having discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities regarding potential solutions but the understanding of the actual school place needs will give clarity as to the specific actions that are required. The critical next step is the prompt provision by the schools of clear data on applications for admissions.

I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in Greystones for the 2024/25 school year and into the future. Families can be assured that any necessary solution will be delivered so that all of the children in the Greystones School Planning Area will receive a first year place.