Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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894. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has discussed capacity issues with the relevant post-primary school authorities in two school planning areas (details supplied) to establish the amount of additional capacity required for the 2021-2022 academic year; when particular capacity requirements will be identified and dealt with; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many parents are finding it impossible to source post-primary school places for their children in these areas at this late stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14895/21]

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 Killester/Raheny/Clontarf,  Drumcondra/Marino/Dublin 1 and Donaghmede/Howth/Dublin 13.

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 there 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 Killester/Raheny/Clontarf,  Drumcondra/Marino/Dublin 1 and Donaghmede/Howth/Dublin 13, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.