Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for primary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13303/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for primary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13304/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for primary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13305/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for primary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13306/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for primary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13307/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for primary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13308/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for primary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13309/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for secondary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13310/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a person (details supplied) who to date is without a place for primary school; her proposals to address the need of this child and give some reassurance to parents that their child will get a place in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13311/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 265, inclusive, together.

Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. In formulating an admissions policy a school must, however, ensure it is lawful. In particular, it must act in accordance with Section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 which, subject to very limited exceptions, prohibits schools from discriminating against people in relation to a number of matters including the admission of a pupil to the school.

Currently, under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, parents of a student who has been refused enrolment in a school may appeal that decision to the Secretary General of this Department. Such appeals are dealt with within 30 days of their receipt and where an appeal is upheld the Secretary General is empowered to direct the school to enrol the student. Otherwise, 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.

I am conscious that there is considerable pressure for school places in the Dublin 15 area in general. Adding to this pressure is the fact that a number of parents have enrolled their children in more than one school. This has the result of inflating the number of children apparently seeking places. Officials in School Planning Section of my Department are constantly liaising with school principals in the area with a view to ensuring that all eligible pupils seeking places for 2007 will have access to them.