Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department plans to provide additional first year places at a school (details supplied) to meet the demand for the 2022-2023 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3991/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country.

However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures 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.

My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities/patrons. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with school patron bodies/school authorities to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

My Department has examined the school planning areas for which the school referred to by the Deputy was established as a regional solution and is satisfied that the first year places being offered by schools in the two school planning areas concerned will cater for the projected demand for 2022/23.