Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

For clarity, the Department of Education does not set out any catchment areas and we have no function in setting out catchment areas for schools. That is the preserve of the boards of management and the Department of Education has no function there.

For the school referenced by the Deputy, it is my understanding that there is no catchment area designed by the board of management. Schools choose to use whatever type of enrolment mechanism, whether a lottery or otherwise, and consequently, as we do not develop catchment areas, we do not have catchment area maps in the Department. I have referenced the school planning area maps. There are 314 school planning areas in the country. We are happy to publish those maps and my understanding is that they will be published online on gov.iein the coming weeks.

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