School Enrolments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Questions (135)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

135. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on removing the cap for enrolment at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare for the next three years until construction of new school buildings is complete; the number of parents of pupils of the school concerned that have initiated appeals under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 concerning enrolments; if she will arrange a meeting with all stakeholders to look at finding an acceptable solution to the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8827/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

When the new building for the post-primary school to which the Deputy refers is delivered it will have capacity for 1,000 pupils.

The Deputy will be aware that a second post-primary school for the area opened last September and this too will have capacity for 1,000 pupils when its new building is delivered and when it is a fully developed school.

Both of these schools would be expected to have a first-year intake commensurate with the level of accommodation that is available to them or that will be available to them in the long term so as to ensure a balance between both schools. Any other approach will cause difficulties for the schools down the road.

The Education and Training Board is the Patron for both schools and my Department understands from it that it has received twenty Section 29 Appeals for the school in question. As enrolment polices are a matter for the managerial authorities of school, I, therefore, have no plans to meet the stakeholders in question.