Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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506.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in Dublin west without a secondary school place for September 2024, who have been in contact with her Department or the Tusla education welfare officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[33907/24]

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.

As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

- Duplication of applications

- School of choice

- Single sex schools

- External draw

Notwithstanding the above, in some areas demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools

- Provision of a new school or schools

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.

As part of planning for September 2024, data on applications for admission has been received by the Department from post-primary schools across areas of known enrolment pressure including the School Planning Areas in Dublin West. The sharing of this data has been helpful in the identification of school place requirements across the areas.

In that context, 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. As part of this engagement with patrons, the Department is also collaboratively planning towards 2025/26 and future years, as part of forward planning generally.

There are a variety of reasons why a child may be without a school place, such as, children moving school mid-year, family relocating, expulsion and children receiving a place further away than they can travel to.

The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) is part of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. The EWS is a statutory service and its primary role is to ensure that every child either attends school regularly or otherwise receives a certain minimum education and to ensure and secure every child’s entitlement to education. The EWS can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school placement for their child. Referrals to the EWS may be made throughout the school year. Once a referral is made to the EWS in respect of a child or young person with no school place, it will remain an open case until such time as a school place is offered and accepted.

My Department has been informed that as of 2 September 2024, TESS are in contact with families of 7 young people seeking post-primary places in Dublin 15.

The Educational Welfare Officer has been in contact with these families and are liaising with the schools in the area to share information with a view to resolving the situation.

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 Dublin West school planning areas for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.