THE PROJECTED number of children enrolling in some primary schools is set to almost double in the next four years, placing severe strain on the education system.
Internal Department of Education records show around 40 areas across the State likely to experience a rapid increases in school-going population. Most of these are in the Dublin area and surrounding counties such as Kildare, Meath and Louth.
The department’s calculations are based on information from the Central Statistics Office, detailed information from the General Registrar’s Office and enrolment statistics from local schools.
The area expected to have the highest increase in primary school students is the Midleton/Carrig-twohill in east Co Cork. Enrolment numbers there are likely to increase from 2,118 in the 2009/2009 school year to 5,081 in 2014, an increase of almost 240 per cent.
In general, west Dublin has very high projected enrolment numbers over the coming years. This includes Blanchardstown west (a 181 per cent increase), Carpenterstown (149 per cent) and Blanchardstown village (124 per cent).
Other parts of the city likely to have significant increases include Ballinteer (156 per cent), Clondalkin (154 per cent), Sandymount/Ringsend (141 per cent) and Swords (130 per cent).
Other parts of the country with expected high increases include Ashbourne, Navan and Trim in Co Meath, as well as Celbridge, Naas, Newbridge and Prosperous/Clane in Co Kildare.
The records, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that projected enrolment numbers have not been finalised in many areas, although the numbers are expected to increase significantly.
These areas include the Firhouse/Oldbawn area near Tallaght, Tyrellstown/Mulhuddart in west Dublin, Rush and Lusk in Co Dublin, Drogheda in Co Louth and Limerick city.
Areas where significant numbers of classrooms or schools have been provided to meet emerging needs were not placed on lists of high population growth. The Department of Education yesterday said it has developed this database to help prioritise its school building programme.
“In 2010 alone, over €579 million will be invested in school infrastructure around the country under the school building and modernisation programme,” the department said in a statement.
“Last month, the Minister for Education announced details of 52 major school-building projects which will be proceeding to tender and construction in 2010 and 2011. In addition, a further 51 projects which are to begin the design process were also announced.”
It added that in recent years, the department has developed the use of “off-site modular construction” to speed up construction of school buildings in rapidly developing areas.