Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 June 2014
259. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children on the waiting list for places in junior infants in a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; if school places will be provided for these children in the coming academic year; the action he will take to ensure enrolment of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24678/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not hold details of enrolment applicants in schools. Such details are retained by the individual school authority.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department approved funding to the boys' school in the area in question in May 2012 to provide two additional classrooms to cater for increasing pupil numbers. As part of the same building project, my Department also provided funding to the school under the 2012 Prefab Replacement Initiative to replace rented prefabs being used for resource teaching purposes. I understand that this building project was completed in May 2014 with a grant amounting to over €400,000 being provided by my Department. This additional accommodation will facilitate the school enrolling an extra junior infant class in September 2014.
My Department has no record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the girls' school in the area. My officials have contacted the school advising that it is open to them to submit an application should the current accommodation be insufficient to cater for any increasing enrolments. I understand that the school is considering the matter.
