As the number of births in the Republic of Ireland continues to rise, the Department of Education and Science faces a major challenge. It needs to provide more places at more schools to accommodate a ten percent increase in school-aged children – but in which regions of Ireland and in which schools are the places needed? ArcGIS is helping to provide the answers to these questions.
Social Education DES
Client
The Department of Education & Science is a Public Sector Government Department. Its headquarters is located in Dublin with substantial offices in Tullamore and Athlone. It services the Irish school going population at all levels.
The Challenge
The number of births in 2008 set a 113 year record (the highest birth rate since 1896, totalling 75,065 births). Enrolments at primary schools have been increasing since 2001/02 and are projected to continue increasing. Understandably, this prediction presents a major challenge for the Department of Education and Science (DES) as it needs to plan ahead for future demographic growth and understand where additional school places will be required.
The Solution
ArcGIS allows the DES to conduct detailed analysis on the demographics of each different part of the country, utilising data such as planned and recent housing developments, school enrolment trends, census information, as well as birth rates and child benefit statistics. The department can then model a range of forecast scenarios for each area for the coming years and assess the likely changes to the school going population in those areas.
The Benefits
Utilising ArcGIS, the DES has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. It is now using this information to work closely with local authorities and ensure that new schools are built as quickly as possible. “ArcGIS enables us to respond appropriately to increases in demand for school places and helps us to make sure that we provide the right number of school places in the right locations to meet the needs of families in Ireland”, Richard Dolan, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of Education & Science.
The Technology Used
This task has become much easier since the DES deployed ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop software and appointed ESRI Ireland to provide GIS consultancy The DES is now using ArcGIS to help it anticipate where 100,000 new school places will need to be created over the next seven years. Thematic maps show where the most pressing demand for places is currently and will be in future years, so that the DES can more accurately plan for future accommodation needs based on identified and understood demographic trends.
ArcGIS Desktop
This task has become much easier since the DES deployed ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop software and appointed ESRI Ireland to provide GIS consultancy The DES is now using ArcGIS to help it anticipate where 100,000 new school places will need to be created over the next seven years. Thematic maps show where the most pressing demand for places is currently and will be in future years, so that the DES can more accurately plan for future accommodation needs based on identified and understood demographic trends