Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 1525: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of new places available in each of the all-Irish secondary schools in Dublin City and County for September 2007; if there are waiting lists for each of these schools; if any of these schools have submitted requests to her Department for funding for additional classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1405/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Three all-Irish schools currently serve the needs of Dublin City at post primary level. These are:

Coláiste Mhuire, Navan Road, Dublin 7

Scoil Chaitríona, Glasnevin, Dublin 9

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Donaghmede, Dublin 13.

The three schools had a total first year intake of 156 students and an overall enrolment of 727 pupils as of 30th September 2005.

Coláiste Mhuire has an application with the Department for a new school building. This has been assigned a Band rating of 2.2 under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. The school is currently located in temporary accommodation on the grounds of St Joseph's School for the Deaf on the Navan Road.

Scoil Chaitríona was recently awarded almost €1.2 million to replace all of its windows. There is no further application on hands for capital funding for this school.

Gaelcholáiste Reachrann is located on the Grange Community College campus in Donaghmede. An extension to provide extra accommodation for both schools is currently in architectural planning. The school has a total enrolment of 191 pupils and it will have the capacity to enrol up to 450 students in the long-term.

Five all-Irish schools serve the needs of South County Dublin at post primary level. These are:

Coláiste Chillian, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, Co. Dublin

Coláiste Eoin, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

Coláiste Íosagáin, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

Coláiste Íde, Tallaght, Dublin 24

These five schools had a total first year intake of 316 students and an overall enrolment of 1,779 pupils as at 30th September 2005.

Coláiste Chillian was recently awarded funding to upgrade a Science Laboratory under the Summer Works Scheme 2007. The Department has no application from the school for additional accommodation.

Coláiste Cois Life recently received a new school building for a long term projected enrolment of 600 pupils. Its enrolment in 2005 was 235 pupils.

Coláiste Eoin has not applied for additional accommodation, however, it did receive funding for the replacement of windows under the Summer Works Scheme 2006.

Coláiste Íosagáin has not applied for additional accommodation, however, it too received funding for the replacement of windows under the Summer Works Scheme 2006.

Coláiste Íde also received funding for external works under the Summer Works Scheme 2006. This school has not applied for any additional accommodation.

My Department is not aware of waiting lists at all-Irish post primary level in Dublin. However, enrolments are a matter for individual Boards of Management.

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 1526: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will assist three children from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who have been unable to obtain a place in a Meánscoil Lán-Ghaeilge for September 2007. [1406/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The selection and enrolment of pupils in second-level schools is the responsibility of the school management authorities. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking second level places in an area. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides parents with an appeal process where a Board of Management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Only where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld can the Secretary General of my Department direct a school to enrol a pupil.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.