Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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301. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the only national school with places available on 17 July 2017 in Toberburr, a rural school 8 km away, represents a viable offer for families with children already in a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35643/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that the existing schools in an area can, between them, cater for the demand in that area. I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is continuing to monitor the enrolment position in the Swords area closely and is in ongoing contact with the Patrons of the relevant schools.

As the Deputy will be aware, there are 13 primary schools serving the Swords area. I wish to confirm that my Department has been advised by two of these primary schools, Scoil Choilmcille Boys' National School and St Cronan's Junior National School, that they have junior infant places currently available. These schools have also expressed a willingness to offer further junior infant places for September 2017, if necessary. I understand that these schools are less than 3 kilometres from the school referred to in the details supplied.

My Department is aware of the school referred to by the Deputy and, having regard to its location within the school planning area, it is not one of the two schools identified, referred to above, to meet any additional junior infant demand, if required, for the next school year.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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302. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that the right of children refused a place in a school (details supplied) to an appropriate education has been met. [35644/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.

Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school. Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on the Department's website www.education.ie.

The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500.

I wish to confirm that my Department has been advised by two primary schools in the Swords area, Scoil Choilmcille Boys' National School and St Cronan's Junior National School, that they have junior infant places currently available.  These schools have also expressed a willingness to offer further junior infant places for September 2017, if necessary.  I understand that these schools are less than 3 kilometres from the school referred to in the details supplied.