Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2016
17. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that the consequences of the policy of the patron of a school (details supplied) in refusing to enrol new children is having a detrimental effect on class sizes in adjacent schools; his plans to open a community national school in an area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18290/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the enrolment policy in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of the school, subject to the approval of the Patron. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
The Patron has advised the Department that there has been no change in the enrolment policy of the school referred to and that no pupil has been refused a place.
As the Deputy will also be aware, since 2011 new schools are generally only established in areas of demographic growth. My Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my own Department's databases. With this information, nationwide demographic exercises are carried out to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary levels. My Department will continue to analyse demographic trends and monitor enrolments, to determine where new schools will be required. My Department has no plans currently to open a new school in this area.
