Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2012
123. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason families living in Clontarf, Dublin 3, are not automatically entitled to a boys' secondary school in their catchment area; if he will outline the options available to families that cannot access these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50790/12]
View answerMy Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011, I announced that 20 new post-primary schools are to be established in the coming years across a number of locations to meet significantly increasing demographics in those areas. This announcement did not include a proposal to establish a new post-primary school in Clontarf, Dublin 3. The Forward Planning Section of my Department will continue to analyse demographic trends to determine the level of additional school provision which will be required into the future. Overall school requirements in Clontarf, Dublin 3 will be fully considered in this context.
