Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the case of a person and their daughter (details supplied); if she will intervene to assist in identifying a suitable school placement for this pupil in Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56143/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.??Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some students not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

In accordance with the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, schools are required to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the school’s admission policy.??

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is the agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. Tess have advised that no referral has been received to date in relation to this child. At this time, TESS advises that the parent make applications to both local schools and schools outside of their immediate locality. The parent may contact TESS directly and they will assist the parent in securing a school place for the child referred to in this question Educational Welfare Services contact details are: tess.mw@tusla.ie or telephone: 091-385302.