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 the Department.

My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in North Kildare School Planning Areas of Maynooth, Newbridge, Naas, Celbridge, Kilcock, Curragh and Kildare.

A critical next step for my Department is to establish the actual number of additional first year places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, including Maynooth, Newbridge, Naas, Celbridge, Kilcock, Curragh and Kildare, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. This data has been received by my officials and is currently being analysed with a view to establishing the actual requirement for places. Preliminary assessments indicate that duplications of applications, and applications from outside the local area, are very much contributing to enrolment pressures in North Kildare School Planning Areas.

My Department is working to clarify the actual requirement for additional school places and to identify particular further capacity requirements for 2024 and forthcoming years. My Department will engage with schools and patrons to put any required solutions in place - beyond those that are already in train - to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area.

I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in the Maynooth, Newbridge, Naas, Celbridge, Kilcock, Curragh and Kildare area for the 2024/25 school year and into the future. Families can be assured that any necessary solution will be delivered so that all of the children in North Kildare School Planning Areas will receive a first year place.