To ask the Minister of Education to detail how his Department and the Education Authority determined that existing facilities are adequate to meet the needs of a growing population in the Mid Down area, where new housing is not only planned but is currently being built and occupied.

My Department and the Education Authority (EA) (working alongside the Council for Catholic-Maintained Schools (CCMS) and other sectoral bodies) keep the provision of school places under ongoing review to ensure that sufficient places are available to meet current and projected demand across all areas.

New housing developments, both planned and delivered, do not necessarily translate into an increase in demand for school places. Areas which have experienced significant housing development have not always realised an increase in enrolment numbers in schools. The demographic profile of developments can vary significantly, and not all new housing results in an increase in school-aged children.

The EA, in planning for provision, considers current school admissions, published birth rates and DE/NISRA projections. Current admissions to primary schools in the area shows a downturn which is reflected in the birth rates for the Mid-Down area. NISRA projections indicate a decline in the number of school-aged children for the next seven years and it is projected that by 2033/34 there will be 30,000 less pupils in the entire primary school system. This wider demographic context is a key consideration in assessing long-term need and helps ensure that decisions are sustainable and avoid the creation of surplus capacity.

My Department will continue to work closely with the EA and other stakeholders to ensure that any emerging pressures are identified early and addressed in a timely and strategic manner.