Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
735. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the number of primary school children expected to need junior infant places in September 2022 versus the number of spaces in local primary schools for an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63435/21]
View answerThe two areas referred to by the Deputy are located in two separate school planning areas.
There are three primary schools located in the first area referred to by the Deputy. The projected junior infant requirement for this area for 2022/23 school year is 278 places and it is expected that this number can be catered for within the projected intake for the 3 primary schools.
The second area referred to by the Deputy is part of the Blanchardstown village/Clonsilla school planning area. There are 11 primary schools within this school planning area, of which 3 are senior primary schools, leaving 8 primary schools catering for junior infants. The projected junior infant requirement for this school planning area for the 2022/23 school year is showing a need for 563 junior infant places.
The adjoining Blanchardstown West school planning area has 6 primary schools catering for junior infant classes. Projections indicate a need for 404 junior infant places for the 2022/23 school year.
It is expected that the schools in both these school planning areas can cater for projected demand.
My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department proactively engages with patron bodies, including patrons in the relevant school planning area, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures 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 they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.
Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have drafted new admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The newly revised school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.
