Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Clontarf, Killester and Raheny area, 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

Information provided by schools earlier in the year indicated that there was some available capacity in the Irish Medium primary schools in Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning 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.

The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.

Additionally, the Department will continue to liaise with the Local Authority in respect of its review of Development Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.

As part of the 20-Year Strategy for Irish 2010-2030, my Department is dedicated to creating opportunities to expand Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht.

This is proceeding in the context of the announcements in relation to the establishment of 47 new schools since 2019.The process to determine the patronage of these new schools pays particular attention to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí and Irish-medium Aonaid.