Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, 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.

It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always 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

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including the Greystones School Planning Area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.

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.

There are currently a number of active projects at primary and post-primary level in the Greystones School Planning Area which will increase local capacity, including the following:

• St David's: A recently completed extension to provide for an LTPE of 750 Pupils
• Greystones Community College: New School Building to provide accommodation for an LTPE of 1,000 + 4 SEN Classes. Currently at Stage 3.
• Temple Carrig: Extension to provide accommodation for an LTPE of 1,000. Currently at Stage 1. A project for 4 Modular mainstream classrooms has also been approved. These classrooms are now on site and the project is nearing completion.

My officials are leading ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities to put the necessary solutions in place for the 2024/25 and future school years.

The requirement for additional school places in the Greystones school planning area is kept under ongoing review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.