Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for an extra class to accommodate children on the waiting list for a school place for September; the intended size of that class; the timeline for completion of that class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24745/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 €335 million in school infrastructure across County Kildare. 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 post primary enrolment pressures in Kildare, including Maynooth, for the 2025/26 school year. The Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools 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 Maynooth. The admissions data provided by schools allows the Department to analyse duplicate applications as there can be significant overlap in areas.

It is important to note that the availability of places is a matter for each individual school in the context of their Admissions legislation.

Department officials have been in contact with the school referred, and will continue to engage with schools and patrons in Maynooth 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 Maynooth.