Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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325.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide assurance that a school's enrolment numbers (details supplied) will return to 240 in September 2025, following the approval of modular and permanent school accommodation to support the gradual increase of student numbers to 1,500; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25305/24]

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 the Castleknock_D15 and Carpenterstown_15 School Planning Areas.

As part of planning for September 2024, post-primary schools in the Castleknock_D15 and Carpenterstown_D15 School Planning Areas were contacted by the Department, and data on applications for admission has been received by the Department across these areas of enrolment pressure.

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.

While some applicants may not yet have received an offer of a school place for 2024/25, families can be assured that all children who require a school place will be provided with one. The Department is continuing to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there are sufficient school places available, and to put any required solutions in place.

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has a modular project and a traditional construction project in the pipeline for the school in question.

Following consultation between my Department and Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education Training Board (DDLETB), the patron of the school in question, it was agreed in early 2021 to increase the capacity of the school to 1,500 places. There was no time frame determined for this increase but it was expected that there would be a gradual increase in enrolments over a number of years.

In order to facilitate an initial increase in enrolments, modular accommodation of 4 x Mainstream Classrooms, 2 x Science laboratories and additional toilets was provided at the school in 2022. As a result of continued engagement between my Department and DDLETB it was agreed to provide further modular accommodation at the school for the 2024/25 school year. This accommodation includes reconfiguration within the school building to provide two special education classrooms and modular accommodation consisting of two science laboratories (for displacement) and one prep area, and four x mainstream classrooms. This accommodation is being provided under the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework. Initial approval issued to the school for this accommodation in February. A subsequent phase two traditional construction project to deliver the remaining accommodation has been agreed by DDLETB and is currently with the department’s Technical team for project typing and costing.

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.

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 Castleknock and Carpenterstown areas for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.