Medium Term Education Capital Investment Framework – Focus on School Projects to meet Rapidly Rising Demographic Demands [education.ie]
- Published: 16 November 2011
100,000 permanent school places to be provided over next five years
Soaring birth rates are putting unprecedented demands on schools,the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., said today.Recent birth rate data show that 19,950 births were registered in the first quarter of 2011. This was an increase of 7.6% in the number of births registered in the corresponding quarter of 2010.
The figures, published by the Central Statistics Office, represent the highest number of births registered in any quarter since the series began in 1960.
"The demographic challenge facing the education system has not yet been the subject of extensive public discussion," said the Minister who added that "it is vital that the schooling system is prepared to cope with these increased numbers".
Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 between now and 2018 - over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary - and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at post-primary level.
The Minister said that his priority is now to focus on major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet the demographic demands.
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