Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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762. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which ongoing dialogue continues between her Department, the KWETB and the relevant school authorities in Maynooth, County Kildare at pre-primary, primary and post-primary levels with a view to ensuring that sufficient places are being made available to meet the demand of the current and subsequent years without interruption either in respect of continued building where required, the planning of any new schools, or the acceleration of ongoing work in all schools including gaelcholaiste; if satisfactory results can be achieved before the new school year; if she is satisfied that work in progress or steps yet to be taken can proceed without interruption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13648/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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764. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which ongoing dialogue continues between her Department, the KWETB and the relevant school authorities in Kilcock, County Kildare at pre-primary, primary and post-primary levels with a view to ensuring that sufficient places are being made available to meet the demand of the current and subsequent years without interruption either in respect of continued building where required, the planning of any new schools, or the acceleration of ongoing work in all schools; if satisfactory results can be achieved before the new school year; if she is satisfied that work in progress or steps yet to be taken can proceed without interruption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13650/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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765. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which ongoing dialogue continues between her Department, the KWETB and the relevant school authorities in Clane, County Kildare at pre-primary, primary and post-primary levels with a view to ensuring that sufficient places are being made available to meet the demand of the current and subsequent years without interruption either in respect of continued building where required, the planning of any new schools, or the acceleration of ongoing work in all schools; if satisfactory results can be achieved before the new school year; if she is satisfied that work in progress or steps yet to be taken can proceed without interruption with particular to the children whose parents previously attend the local schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13651/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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766. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which ongoing dialogue continues between her Department, the KWETB and the relevant school authorities in Naas, County Kildare at pre-primary, primary and post-primary levels with a view to ensuring that sufficient places are being made available to meet the demand of the current and subsequent years without interruption either in respect of continued building where required, the planning of any new schools, or the acceleration of ongoing work in all schools; if satisfactory results can be achieved before the new school year; if she is satisfied that work in progress or steps yet to be taken can proceed without interruption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13652/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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767. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which ongoing dialogue continues between her Department, the KWETB and the relevant school authorities in Sallins, County Kildare at pre-primary, primary and post-primary levels with a view to ensuring that sufficient places are being made available to meet the demand of the current and subsequent years without interruption either in respect of continued building where required, the planning of any new schools, or the acceleration of ongoing work in all schools; if satisfactory results can be achieved before the new school year; if she is satisfied that work in progress or steps yet to be taken can proceed without interruption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13653/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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768. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which ongoing dialogue continues between her Department, the KWETB and the relevant school authorities in Prosperous, County Kildare at pre-primary, primary and post-primary levels with a view to ensuring that sufficient places are being made available to meet the demand of the current and subsequent years without interruption either in respect of continued building where required, the planning of any new schools, or the acceleration of ongoing work in all schools; if satisfactory results can be achieved before the new school year; if she is satisfied that work in progress or steps yet to be taken can proceed without interruption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13654/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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770. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current position and extent of the dialogue taking place between the relevant section of her Department and the relevant school authorities and parents awaiting or anticipating progress in respect of pre-primary, primary and post-primary schools in Naas, County Kildare with particular reference to the need to ensure the provision of adequate school places at all levels in a unified way thereby eliminating any snags that might arise such as the availability of the necessary finance in order to allow the educational needs of the town continue to be met in a way which takes account of the rapidly increasing population of the area and at the same time report progress on the various deliberations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13656/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 762, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768 and 770 together.

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.

As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

While my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in Co. Kildare 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 across school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities.

This close engagement will allow my Department to identify at an early stage particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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763. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which ongoing dialogue continues between her Department, the KWETB and the relevant school authorities in Leixlip, County Kildare at pre-primary, primary and post-primary levels with a view to ensuring that sufficient places are being made available to meet the demand of the current and subsequent years without interruption either in respect of continued building where required, the planning of any new schools, or the acceleration of ongoing work in all schools; if satisfactory results can be achieved before the new school year; if she is satisfied that work in progress or steps yet to be taken can proceed without interruption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13649/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for my Department. The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for early years education outside the formal education system, including pre-school provision through the free Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE).

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, 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'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.

Through close engagement with school patrons and authorities, my Department has established a requirement for additional school places at primary and post primary level in a small number of areas across the country. With the support of my Department, a significant number of additional junior infant and first year places have already been made available in schools in recent weeks. Engagement is ongoing with further schools and patrons with a view to making increased provision where necessary. It is expected that these places will become available imminently.

The current status of approved projects under the school building programme is listed on a county by county basis on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and is updated regularly.