Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the enrolment crisis at a school (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26935/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is responsible for the day to day running of a school. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places.

In relation to school admissions, 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. It is the responsibility of the Board of Management to create and operate the enrolment policy for its school. However, it may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in their school of first choice.

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.

Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of the 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.

I wish to advise the Deputy that an application for additional accommodation has been received from the patron of the school referred to in the details supplied. My Department is currently liaising with the patron in relation to the application and is awaiting receipt of additional information which the patron has undertaken to provide. The matter will be considered further following receipt of this information.