Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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25. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the need to address long waiting lists for students and the stress they cause for families in securing places in secondary schools in Dublin west. [8504/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 of Education.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €1.341 billion in school infrastructure in Dublin and €171 million in Dublin West alone. This significant capital investment includes a number of recently delivered new school building projects. There are many other projects being progressed through the construction, pre-construction architectural design and planning process, details of which are updated regularly on gov.ie.

There are more first year places available across Dublin West than there are sixth class children enrolled in primary schools. For the 2024/25 year, there was a surplus of first year places available with over 6% of available first year places not being filled. It is expected that there will be a similar surplus for the 2025/26 school year.

Nonetheless, I am aware that there can be pressures where there is high demand in an area or for a particular school. In that context my Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools in managing and effectively coordinating their admissions processes including enhancements to the IT systems for registering enrolments, and continuing the data-sharing arrangements with schools in areas of enrolment pressure including Dublin West.

The sharing of this data has been very effective in the identification of school place requirements. 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. The Department is working with schools to ensure there are sufficient places for all who require a place for 2025. Further additional provision will be made where a need is identified.