Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contact his Department has had with primary schools in the Swords area in respect of their junior infant capacity; if these schools have been met with collectively to review enrolment figures; the details of his Department's assessment that the need of junior infants enrolling in the schools in the Swords area will be met by the available places; if he will meet with parents in the area to discuss their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10130/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently reviewing the demographic data in the Swords area referred to by the Deputy as part of the overall demographic analyses of all school planning areas nationwide.

As the Deputy will be aware, there are 13 primary schools serving the area referred to, one of which has made contact with my Department in regard to junior infant intake for September 2017. In addition, my Department has been in direct contact with a number of schools in school planning area in respect of their junior infant capacity. In that regard it is understood that at least one primary school is undersubscribed and has expressed a willingness to enroll further junior infants in September 2017, if necessary. The school enrolment position for September 2017 will be clarified when the schools concerned have completed their enrolment process in the coming weeks. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in school planning areas to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of another school.

My Department is monitoring the position closely in the Swords area closely. While the situation may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice, the Deputy will appreciate that my Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that the existing schools in the area can, between them, cater for the demand for Junior Infant places in September 2017.