Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017
189. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a group equal to two classes of students in north County Kildare will have been denied access to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he will re-evaluate the need for additional Gaelscoileanna provision in north County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4037/17]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department recently met with representatives of the school referred to by the Deputy and it was agreed that a further meeting would be convened within the coming weeks.
It was agreed also that this would allow adequate time for updated demographic data, taking into account overall current and projected pupil numbers in the area, and the enrolment position in the case of the school in question and other schools in the area; the various factors that contribute to the compilation and operation of any waiting lists; the impact of expansion of school capacity in the case of this school on other schools in the area to be clarified and assessed. As part of this process, this further information was supplied by the school to the Department recently. The information is currently being considered and my Department expects to be in further contact with the school authority and Patron in relation to the data assessment process.
My Department is keeping this area under review to take account of updated demographic data. In the event that a new school is required, to meet demographic needs, my Department runs a separate patronage process to decide who will operate the school. This patronage process incorporates consideration of, and the potential for, Irish-medium provision.
