Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will meet persons (details supplied) to ascertain their position with regard to enrolments for future years and in the transition period until there is a second school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36921/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of children being affected by the enrolment policy in a school (details supplied) in County Wexford over the next four years is only 24; her views on whether this small figure is not going to impact negatively on the pupils already attending the school but will impact negatively on the pupils from this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36922/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together.

The post-primary school to which the Deputy refers is heavily oversubscribed as a result of a significant number of pupils enrolling from outside its catchment area. The cumulative effect of the development of this type of situation over a number of years can impact negatively on pupils from within the catchment area who are entitled, as of right, to a place in a particular school. It also invariably impacts negatively on the school or schools to which these pupils should rightly attend and in which considerable capital investment has been made for this purpose. It is a matter for all school authorities, in the context of their enrolment policies, to limit enrolment to within their catchment areas to ensure such situations do not arise.

As a once off exceptional measure, my Department decided that a number of named pupils from outside the catchment area to which the Deputy refers would be allowed to enrol in the post-primary school in question for the 2005-06 school year. This decision was taken because the pupils concerned had an expectation that they would be enrolling in the school and did not have sufficient notice to secure alternative placements.

It was made clear to the school authority in July this year that this arrangement would apply for the 2005-06 school year only. It was made equally clear that the arrangement did not create a precedent and that it would not be repeated in subsequent years. I am satisfied that there are adequate places for the enrolment of the pupils in question in schools in their own post-primary centres. I am also satisfied that adequate notice has been given to the particular school concerned to ensure it implements an appropriate enrolment policy for the 2006-07 school year in the best interests of its own pupils. In the circumstances, my Department's position in this matter remains unchanged and a meeting to discuss this aspect further would not serve any useful purpose.

With regard to the new post-primary school for Gorey, my Department will be engaging at the appropriate time with the authorities of the existing post-primary school concerning the process and arrangements that will be required to ensure a smooth transition from a one post-primary school centre to a two school centre. Part of this process will involve defining the enrolment policies and catchments areas, within the existing Gorey catchment area boundaries, that will underpin effective provision once Gorey becomes a two school centre.