Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has identified an immediate solution to the significant lack of placements for new students from the local catchment area attempting to enrol in 2022 at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4624/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My 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 including Trim Co. Meath.

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.

The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across a number of school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities/patrons.  Through this engagement with the schools in Trim, it has been confirmed that there is currently a deficit of school places for the 2022/23 academic year.  The Department has been working closely with representatives of Boyne Community School to deliver an appropriate solution to provide the required school places, including the provision of necessary accommodation. On this basis, the Department understands that Boyne Community School has now issued further offers of first year places for 2022/23 and that the identified need in Trim has now been addressed.

My Department's engagement with patrons/school authorities is focussed on ensuring that the start of the 2022/23 school year operates as smoothly as possible for all schools and their students.