Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are not sufficient places at a school (details supplied) in County Offaly; the way he intends to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45143/09]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are not sufficient places at a school (details supplied) in County Offaly; the way he intends to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45144/09]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way he intends to address the overall issue of lack of school places in a school catchment area (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45145/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 to 240, inclusive, together.

The question of 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.

The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of carrying out detailed analysis of over 40 locations of highest population growth in order to identify the school accommodation requirements up to and including the school year 2014/2015.

When the required reports have been completed for these initial areas selected the Forward Planning Section will continue to work on preparing reports on a priority basis for the remainder of the country.

Overall primary and post-primary accommodation requirements in the area referred to in Co. Offaly will be considered in this regard.