Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will 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 student not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

As part of planning for September 2024, post-primary schools in Castleknock and Carpenterstown were contacted by the Department, and data on applications for admission has been received by the Department across these areas of enrolment pressure, and updated data on offers and acceptances continues to be received as admissions processes transact.

The sharing of this data has been of assistance in the identification of school place requirements across the areas. In the majority of areas through the work of schools, patrons, management bodies and the Department, there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children in the area. However, there is an identified requirement for additional first year places in the above school planning areas and the Department have been liaising with schools and patrons in this respect, with a view to advancing a solution as soon as possible.

The Deputy will appreciate that there can often be significant overlap across areas and schools and the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex. As a result there can be multiple iterations, where applicants may accept a place but subsequently be offered and accept a place at a second school, freeing up capacity at the first school accepted.

I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in the Dublin 15 School Planning Areas for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will 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 student not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

As part of planning for September 2024, post-primary schools in Castleknock and Carpenterstown were contacted by the Department, and data on applications for admission has been received by the Department across these areas of enrolment pressure, and updated data on offers and acceptances continues to be received as admissions processes transact.

The sharing of this data has been of assistance in the identification of school place requirements across the areas. In the majority of areas through the work of schools, patrons, management bodies and the Department, there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children in the area. However, there is an identified requirement for additional first year places in the above school planning areas and the Department have been liaising with schools and patrons in this respect, with a view to advancing a solution as soon as possible.

The Deputy will appreciate that there can often be significant overlap across areas and schools and the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex. As a result there can be multiple iterations, where applicants may accept a place but subsequently be offered and accept a place at a second school, freeing up capacity at the first school accepted.

I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in the Dublin 15 School Planning Areas for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.