Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if it is possible to request schools in the Dublin-North region to publish their lists of pupil intake before 28 February each year in order to facilitate a more orderly method of dealing with pupils on waiting lists. [21457/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Section 15(2)(d) of the Education Act 1998 requires the Board of Management to publish the policy of the school concerning the admission to and participation in the school.

The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age. Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My 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 open to all schools to apply for extra temporary accommodation to meet the immediate need for places at junior infant level or for older children. Such applications are invariably granted but of course schools need to make sure that they apply for extra accommodation in time. 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 (as amended by Section 50 of the Equality Act, 2004).

The Board of Management of a school is also obliged under section 19(3) of the Educational Welfare Act 2000 to make a decision in writing in respect of an application for enrolment within 21 days and to inform the parents in writing of that decision. Where a Board of Management refuses to enrol a student in a school, the parent of the student or, where the student has reached 18 years of age, the student himself or herself, following the conclusion of any appeal procedures at school level, has a statutory entitlement under section 29 of the Education Act (as amended by Section 4 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007, to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department.

A committee is established to hear the appeal with hearings conducted with a minimum of formality. In most cases appeals must be dealt with within 30 days. Where appropriate, the Secretary General may give whatever directions to the Board of Management that are considered necessary to remedy the matter complained of.

Details on appealing decisions on enrolment under section 29 of the Education Act (as amended by Section 4 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2007), are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie

Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) County Dublin will have sufficient school places in the coming years to accommodate the growing number of pupils in the Skerries, Loughshinny and Balrothery areas. [21458/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers opened in 1999 and was built to accommodate 1,000 pupils. Based on the 2006/2007 enrolments, the school had 108 vacant pupil places.

The Department is aware of the extensive housing developments and population increases in Skerries which is leading to an increased demand for school places. Earlier this year, the Department published a Draft Area Development Plan setting out infrastructural requirements for the foreseeable future for the north Dublin, east Meath and south Louth areas which includes Skerries.

On foot of this draft plan, the Department is of the view that a new post primary school for circa 600 pupils will be required in Skerries in the coming years. In that context, a site requires to be reserved which is being pursued under the Fingal School Model Agreement process. A timeframe for the delivery of a new school will be set when a suitable site has been identified and acquired.