Written answers
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Department of Education and Skills
School Enrolments
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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497. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider centralising applications for first-year places in an area (details supplied) given the high number of students placed on waiting lists for the next school year, in order for schools to manage demand and avoid issues with duplicate applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46445/24]
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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498. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider centralising applications for first-year places in an area (details supplied) given the high number of students placed on waiting lists for the next school year, in order for schools to manage demand and avoid issues with duplicate applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46446/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 of Education.
Under the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, 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.
The Act requires schools to 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.
The Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools, including in the Clondalkin and Lucan areas of Dublin West, in managing and effectively coordinating their admissions processes. These include:
- The Department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.
- The Department has written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.
- The successful data-sharing arrangements that were implemented for the 2024/25 admissions process in areas of enrolment pressure will be put in place again for the 2025/26 process, including for areas in Dublin. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the Department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place.
The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established. My Department is working to get greater clarity in this respect and will continue to liaise with school authorities and patrons.
As part of this process the Department is currently examining the roll out of a nationwide common application systems in order to reduce stress on parents and students during application periods.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what actions have been taken and are intended to be taken to increase the number of first-year school places in an area (details supplied) in order to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46447/24]
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
500. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what actions have been taken and are intended to be taken to increase the number of first-year school places in an area (details supplied) in order to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46448/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
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 of Education.
Under the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, 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.
The Act requires schools to 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.
The Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools, including in the Clondalkin and Lucan areas of Dublin West, in managing and effectively coordinating their admissions processes. These include:
- The Department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.
- The Department has written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.
- The successful data-sharing arrangements that were implemented for the 2024/25 admissions process in areas of enrolment pressure will be put in place again for the 2025/26 process, including for areas in Dublin. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the Department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place. The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established. My Department is working to get greater clarity in this respect and will continue to liaise with school authorities and patrons.
We are fortunate in Ireland to have some of the best schools in the world, supported by excellent staff and voluntary boards of management. These schools provide a rich, nurturing and supportive environment in which students can learn and grow. We want to support this work by ensuring that schools are adequately funded and supported to achieve their ambitions. As part of this process the Department is currently examining the roll out of a nationwide common application systems in order to reduce stress on parents and students during application periods.
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