Written answers
Wednesday, 7 May 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Schools Administration
Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to arrange a meeting with the board of a school (details supplied) to discuss their plans and proposals for the change in the structure of their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22512/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Under the Education Act, 1998, only schools recognised by the Department fall under the remit of the Minister. The Department provides roll numbers solely to recognised primary and post-primary schools. Private schools operating independently are not eligible for roll numbers, and there is currently no mechanism for the recognition of such schools outside of those established by the Department in response to identified demographic needs.
The Department has no role in the operation, oversight, or funding of unrecognised, independently managed private schools. Consequently, the Department does not hold information in relation to enrolments or other operational data for such institutions.
The Department’s funding is allocated exclusively to recognised schools. This includes:
- Schools operational at the time the Education Act, 1998 came into effect (including fee-charging post-primary schools),
- Schools recognised between 1998 and 2011,
- Schools established since 2011 in response to demographic growth.
This process ensures that there is good oversight and management of school provision, which allows prioritisation of funding (current and capital) towards required additional capacity. It is a fair and transparent process.
A small number of fee-charging post-primary schools have transferred into the free scheme over recent years. These were all already recognised schools and are not equivalent to unrecognised, privately run schools.
In the specific case referenced, Monkstown Park Junior School is a private, fee-charging primary school which is not recognised by the Department.
Monkstown Park Junior School is in the Dún Laoghaire School Planning Area. There are 15 free scheme primary schools in this SPA, including Dún Laoghaire ETNS which was established in 2017 in response to projected demographic demand. To meet projected school place needs, the Department is progressing a number of capital projects. This includes a new 16-classroom building for Dún Laoghaire Educate Together National School (ETNS), currently at Stage 2b. This development will provide good additional capacity in the area. However, on foot of a previous representation, , I have asked my Department to consider the issue which is being raised by Monkstown Park Junior School.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school closures that have been recorded over the past year in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22545/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The decision-making authority for any school closure is the patron/trustees of the school concerned and it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department for consideration.
Any proposed closure involves extensive consultation at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers and local communities.
The Patron and relevant stakeholders are also advised to consider the implications that any school closure proposal may have on factors such as staffing, school furniture/equipment and school records so that an informed decision can be made.
My Department in considering such applications must assess the implications, if any, of proposed school closures in the context of how this change may impact the viability of other schools in the area and any future implications for school place availability. My Department must also consider any associated capital implications that may be warranted as a result of such a change.
Since January 2024 to present, my Department has approved one primary school closure in Co. Donegal. My Department received this proposal for school closure due to low enrolments and no future enrolments foreseen for the 2025/26 academic year as all remaining pupils are progressing to second level education.
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