Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all efforts can be made to ensure that the son of a person (details supplied) can attend school in Kilcock, County Kildare, given that is where his sibling is due to attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6015/23]

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 school places in a number of school planning areas including Kilcock school planning area.

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, 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 recently received a further application from the school in question, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.

Officials from my Department are assessing this application and once the assessment process has been completed the school authorities will be notified directly with a decision.