Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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491. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to increase the number of secondary school places in north Dublin in order to deal with the unprecedented length of waiting lists for secondary school places across the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10311/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas, including school planning areas in North Dublin.

Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

- 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

Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.

Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including patrons in North Dublin, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions. 

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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498. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contingency plans that will be made for the 170 to 190 students who are currently without a secondary school place in the Greystones and Kilcoole areas in County Wicklow; when it is anticipated that these students will be offered a secondary school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10359/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Department recently met with the principals of the post primary schools in the areas in question to ascertain the actual number of pupils in the school planning area who have not received an offer of a school place for September 2021.

The Department is satisfied that accommodation solutions can be put in place to meet these requirements and is currently engaging with the school's patron bodies in relation to increasing their intake for September 2021 and future years.