Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that school places will be provided to children (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25622/24]

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 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 will continue to keep the school place requirements in Naas, as with other areas across the country, under review.

In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an admissions policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. Under the provisions of the Act, school admission policies are approved by the Patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the school’s website.

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 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 pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

All schools must clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. My Department does not seek to intervene in the selection criterion that is applied by schools.

Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal where a board of management, or a person acting on behalf of the board of management (normally the school principal) refuses to admit a student to a school. Where the decision to refuse admission is due to the school being oversubscribed, a review of the decision by the board of management must be sought in the first instance. Following a review it is open to the parent to appeal to the independent appeals committee.

The young persons referred to by the Deputy are not currently known to Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) and it is not an open case with the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of TESS. The local Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) team is available to assist the family and the Senior EWO can be contacted by phone at 01-5252166 or by email at .

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will request that a reason is provided explaining why a child was not accepted as a pupil at a school (details supplied); and the reason the newly built section is not being used to allow for a bigger capacity for pupils, given that there are waiting lists for entry. [25628/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.

The NCSE have confirmed that they continue to support and advise this student's family regarding placement options. Admission to schools is managed locally by schools in accordance with their published admission policy and admission notice. Special schools are unique in that their capacity is often based on the level of need of its enrolled students at a given time.

The school referred to by the Deputy has confirmed that they are in a position to expand their enrolment by a further six students for September 2024, this is in addition to the fifteen students who have already been offered places for September 2024.

My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year. Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally using the details on the NCSE's website.

I have asked the NCSE to keep all families seeking special educational placements updated on developments on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.