Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the catchment areas for certain schools in a geographic area (details supplied); the extent to which these schools can derogate from these boundaries; if he can direct schools to alter their catchment boundaries and allocation policies in view of changing demographics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10843/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There are no catchment areas for primary schools. However for planning purposes the country is divided into geographic districts each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre with one or more post-primary schools. These defined districts facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs

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 1998. In this regard a board of management may deem it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular age group or to children living in a particular area or on the basis of some other criterion. Some schools use parish or other boundaries for this purpose.

The selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based is matter for the individual school authority. In formulating an enrolment policy a school must, however, ensure it is lawful and applied fairly to all applicants.