Written answers
Thursday, 5 March 2020
Department of Education and Skills
School Enrolments
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of discussions he has had with the authorities of a school (details supplied) regarding the difficulties parents are experiencing obtaining school places for first years for September 2020; his plans to ensure local children will have a school place in September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3601/20]
Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that as school authorities finalise their enrolments each year, issues have arisen where primary school pupils are experiencing difficulties in a number of areas in securing a post-primary school place for the start of the new school year (September 2020).
Where capacity is an issue the key points to be considered are:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Where these issues exist, Department officials from the Planning and Building Unit engage with all relevant parties to resolve them.
This process is currently ongoing at the moment with the school Principals with a view to ensuring that every pupil will have a school place for September 2020.
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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307. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of discussions he has had with the authorities of a school (details supplied) regarding the difficulties parents are experiencing obtaining school places for first years for September 2020; his plans to ensure local children will have a school place in September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3602/20]
Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that as school authorities finalise their enrolments each year, issues have arisen where primary school pupils are experiencing difficulties in a number of areas in securing a post-primary school place for the start of the new school year (September 2020).
Where capacity is an issue the key points to be considered are:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Where these issues exist, Department officials from the Planning and Building Unit engage with all relevant parties to resolve them.
Officials from my Department met with all of the school Principals, in the area referred to, and the Department is satisfied that all pupils have now been offered a school place for September 2020.
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