Vol. 553 No. 5
229 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the precise action he and his Department will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will get a place to commence their education in September 2002; and if his attention has been drawn to the shortage crisis in the Lucan area. [14468/02]
The planning and building unit of my Department is monitoring primary school pro vision in the Lucan area on an ongoing basis and, in particular, the demand for school places emanating from the new housing developments in the Griffeen area.
My Department is at an advanced stage in processing an application from the patron body Educate Together for a new primary school in Griffeen. Provided some outstanding matters regarding interim accommodation arrangements can be resolved, I should be in a position to grant recognition to this school from September next. Assuming the school develops as envisaged by the promoters, it will add to overall capacity in the area.
My officials will continue to monitor the situation in Lucan to ensure that all pupils seeking places in a primary school can be provided for.
With regard to the child referred to by the Deputy, the position is that the compulsory school starting age in a national school is six years of age and rule 64(1) of the rules for national schools provides that a child must be at least four years of age before she/he may be enrolled in a national school. Children of compulsory school-going age must have a place in a national school and overall there are more than enough places available.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion.
My Department will carry out an investigation where it is claimed that a board is operating its enrolment policy in a manner which discriminates against a particular child. On the basis of the details supplied by the Deputy, this does not appear to be the case in this instance.
