Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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625. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of young people who currently do not have a secondary school place in Greystones for 2025-2026; and the plan of action to ensure that all will have a school place in their locality by September. [24495/25]

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 of mine.

Since 2020, my Department has invested over €177 million in school infrastructure across County Wicklow. The Department is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place.

My Department is aware of pressures for school places in the Greystones school planning area for the 2025/26 school year. The Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools, including in Greystones, with a view to helping the admissions process for 2025/26 run as smoothly as possible.

Furthermore, the data sharing arrangements that were in place for the 2024/25 admissions process have been put in place again for the 2025/26 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including Greystones. The admissions data provided by schools allows the Department to analyse duplicate applications as there can be significant overlap in areas. My Department is aware of a small number of applicants without a school place in the Greystones school planning area for the 2025/26 academic year. Department officials will continue to engage with schools and patrons in Greystones in the weeks ahead to monitor demand and ensure every child has a school place for September 2025.

I want to assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work to ensure a school place for every child in Greystones.