James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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320. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected number of school places in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44759/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the area in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an additional enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme (the Additional Accommodation Scheme) can also be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly.

In response to projected future need and to enrolment pressures in the area, there has been significant capital investment by my Department providing additional capacity at primary schools in the Kilcock School Planning area. The Kilcock School Planning Area is served by 9 primary schools and the following projects are ongoing or recently completed:

- A major capital project for St. Joseph’s NS Kilcock (RN 16706G) was recently completed in 2021 - New 16-classroom school building plus SEN - this is located within Kilcock town.

A number of projects are ongoing under our Additional School Accommodation Programme with the following schools within the School Planning Area but located outside Kilcock:

- RN 17821L St Marys, Enfield – currently at Stage 4 - to provide 3 SEN (Special Education Needs) class base

- RN 18051Q COOLE NS, Kilcock – Stage 4 – 1 x 80m2 Mainstream Classroom (MCR) additionality

- RN 18650P Newbawn NS, Enfield – Stage 4 – 4 x 80m2 prefab replacement, 1 x 15m2 Set prefab replacement & 1 x 15m2 SET additional.

- RN 18650P Newbawn NS, Enfield – Stage 1 – 2 SEN class base

- RN 18666H Tiermohan NS – Stage 4 – 3 x 80m2 MCR prefab replacement

- RN 18887A St Joseph’s NS Mulhussey Kilcock – Complete – 1 x 80m2 MCR

There is also a current Additional Accommodation project for RN 19897I Scoil Úi Riada, Kilcock (located within Kilcock town) – Stage 2a – 4 x 80m2 MCR additional, 1 x 15m2 SET additional, 3 x 80m2 prefab replacement & 2 x 15m2 SET replacement. This will allow this school expand to cater for 3-streams (Junior Infants to 6th class - 24-classrooms).

Based on the current demographic information, the projects completed and ongoing within the School Planning Area will be sufficient to cater for the future demand in the area. This will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis.