Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her progress to date in increasing the number school places available to second-level boys in the Dublin 9 and 11 region due to a shortage of places for the next academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24887/21]

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 Dublin 9 and Dublin 11.

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 inother 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 Dublin 9 and Dublin 11, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.