Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In recent weeks I have been contacted by a number of parents who have been driven demented trying to find primary school places for their children who are due to commence their formal education this coming September. The majority of these parents live in the Donaghmede-Howth-Dublin 13 school planning area. Parents living in the Belmayne, Clongriffin and Parkside estates are experiencing serious problems finding school places and they are sick with worry about it. There are two schools in this area that are central to this problem: Belmayne Educate Together National School and St. Francis of Assisi Primary School. Parents have been told by the schools that they cannot accommodate any more pupils and their children will be put on a waiting list. These parents have also applied to other primary schools in the school planning area as well as schools in adjacent school planning areas and catchment areas, including schools in Portmarnock and Malahide, but to no avail.

There is massive building and construction taking place in this locality.

It is on the northern fringe of Dublin city and borders the administrative area of Fingal County Council. This residential construction is most welcome. Housing for All is certainly delivering in this area but there needs to be adequate planning for the resultant increase in population, and school planning in particular. Parents in the Killester-Raheny-Clontarf and Beaumont-Coolock-Dublin 5 school planning areas have also been in touch with me regarding their difficulties in sourcing school places for their children. This problem also occurred last year. It is clear extra classes are needed in this school planning area for the 2023-24 academic year. As the Minister knows, school admission policies must be open and transparent and, therefore, section 29 appeals are not usually relevant in the cases brought to my attention.

Will the Minister let me know how the Department plans for the provision of adequate school places in a school planning area? I understand it utilises a geographical information system to anticipate school place demand. The Minister stated previously that a lack of accommodation can be driven by a number of factors, such as duplication of applications and school choice issues, including patronage and single-sex versus coeducational considerations. As I said, there is a problem in this school planning area. It has been identified to me at this stage, early in the year. When does the Department decide that additional school places and accommodation are needed? These parents are particularly worried. They are on waiting lists all over the place and are very disappointed they do not have any certainty regarding a school place for their child at this time. Any information the Minister can give in this regard will be greatly appreciated.

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