School places will be found for all children, O'Keeffe says

MINISTER FOR Education Batt O’Keeffe has expressed confidence his department will be able to find school places for all children, despite a population surge in some parts of the country.

He also signalled that the viability of many smaller rural schools will be examined.

Mr O’Keeffe was speaking yesterday at the unveiling of new digital technology, which seeks to avoid a repetition of events like that in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, where 100 children struggled to find school places 18 months ago because of population growth in that area.

On smaller schools, the Minister stressed there was no immediate threat as these schools were embedded within their communities and a central part of rural life.

However the Minister may come under pressure to respond to the McCarthy report which proposed the closure of many smaller schools.

About 650 of the 3,200 primary schools in the State have fewer than 50 pupils and about half have four classrooms or fewer.

The Department of Education is using a new state-of-the-art mapping technology to predict the number of extra pupils in high-growth areas and the number of classrooms that will be needed to accommodate them.

The Geographical Information System is a digital image of the country using various sources of population-related data to show where schools will be needed.

The surge in population presents a huge logistical challenge for the department over the next 20 years. Overall, primary school enrolment is projected to increase from 509,000 to 592,000 by 2020. The schoolgoing population will increase by 162,000 during the same period.

The department has identified 43 areas of rapid population growth (see panel). Yesterday, officials said they could identify areas with the greatest demand for school places “at the touch of a button”.

The department is also set to tighten procedures for the recognition of schools. At present, any patron with 54 pupils can apply for provisional recognition, but a forthcoming report will propose new controls.

At present, virtually all new schools are either Gaelscoileanna or multi-denominational schools operated by Educate Together.

The department is using a Generic Repeat Design for new buildings, to save costs.

Population surge: the growth areas

Outside Co Dublin:

Carlow town; Cavan town; Ennis; Carrigaline; Cork city; Fermoy; Mallow; Midleton/Carrigtwohill; Letterkenny; Athenry; Galway city; Celbridge; Naas; Newbridge; Prosperous/Clane; Kilkenny; Portarlington; Portlaoise; Limerick city; Drogheda; Dundalk; Ashbourne; Navan; Ratoath; Trim; Athlone; Mullingar; Enniscorthy, Wicklow town.

DUBLIN

Balbriggan; Ballinteer; Clondalkin; areas within Finglas/Ballymun region; Lucan; areas within Marino/Clontarf region; areas within Dublin 7, 15, 24; Mulhuddart; Newcastle/Rathcoole; Rush and Lusk, Sandymount/Ringsend; Swords.