Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
60. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with parents and teacher representatives in the Clondalkin area of Dublin 22 to discuss the crisis in secondary school places for the coming academic year; her plans to accommodate children from the area who cannot access any of the secondary schools in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34947/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including Clondalkin_22 School Planning Area. (SPA)
Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.
Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including patrons in Clondalkin-D22 SPA to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
I wish to advise the Deputy that St. Kevin's Community College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, has been approved 4 general classrooms of modular accommodation for September 2021 to cater for increased intake plus the patron of the school as agreed to grow the school to accommodate 1,000 pupils. In addition, additional general classrooms are being provided in Moyle Park College under the Department Additional Accommodation Scheme.
