James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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1040. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41298/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Education Act 1998, schools are managed by Boards of Management on behalf of the relevant school patrons. Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools have admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron following consultation with the school community. All schools must publish their admissions policy on the school’s website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent. Templates have been provided by the Department for all schools to ensure consistency and compliance with the Act.

The admissions policy, including the selection criterion to be used where the school is oversubscribed, must comply with the 2018 Act, be non-discriminatory and be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. A school must accept all applicants unless oversubscribed. All schools must 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 does not seek to intervene in the selection criterion that is applied by schools.

Where a school is oversubscribed in any particular year, they must compile a waiting list of students whose applications for admission to the intake group were unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed. The school must use this list to fill any vacancies arising during the school year in question only. The Department has contacted the board of management of the school and received confirmation that the school's admissions policy complies with section 62(7)(i); the provision that relates to waiting lists. The board have also confirmed that there are 384 applicants on the waiting list.

It may also be of some assistance to know that Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) the Educational Welfare Service is the legal body which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school placement for their child. Contact details for TESS are available at the following link, www.tusla.ie/tess/get-in-touch/, or by email at tessinfo@tusla.ie.