Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will provide a response to parents of the children of a school to be closed (details supplied) regarding the future of the school site to be shared among two other schools; his plans to assist parents in finding local school places for their children displaced by the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38438/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department acquires land for the establishment of new schools where a future demographic and diversity need has been identified. It was for the purpose of providing school accommodation to meet future requirements for school places needs, that my Department acquired the property, in question. In that regard, it is intended that the property in question will be the permanent location for the second school, referred to by the Deputy. In the interim, it is expected that the first school, referred to by the Deputy, will be located on the property concerned on a temporary basis pending the delivery of its permanent accommodation.

To assist parents and in the interests of minimising disruption to pupils, my Department has written to the various school Patrons in the school area concerned advising of the possible enrolment requests that they may receive and the circumstances associated with such requests and requesting that any pupils who apply to their schools be accommodated where this is feasible. As my Department does not operate a centralised application system for schools, the standard school application procedure applies. Data held by my Department indicates that there are sufficient places within the school planning area and locality to accommodate the current cohort of children in the school that is closing. Correspondence outlining the position has issued both to parents and also to public representatives who made representations on behalf of parents in respect of the school closure.