Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of a student (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26260/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.

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. My Department does not seek to intervene in the selection criterion that is applied by schools. There is also a requirement that the procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school to classes or years other than the school’s intake group must be published in their admissions policy.

As the Deputy will be aware, a Common Applications System, or CAS, operates to manage the admissions process for post primary schools in Limerick City. This system has worked very effectively to meet post primary school place needs and is successfully administered by Limerick Education Centre. My Department has been in close engagement with Limerick Education Centre and school patrons with regard to the admissions process for the 2024/25 school year and has been advised that all applicants under the CAS system have received a first year place for September 2024.

My Department continues to keep the school place needs in Limerick under review, including through engagement with the local authority and school patrons, particularly in the context of the significant population growth provided for under the Limerick Development Plan.

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.

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is the agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The South West region (Cork, Limerick, Clare, Tipp and Kerry) can be contacted at ewsregion1@tusla.ie or by phone at 021-2428611. More information is available on their website on the following link: www.tusla.ie/tess/tess-ews/.