Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
83. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a map of the catchment area for a school (details supplied), given that a number of local residents have been unable to get places in the school despite living in close proximity to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52862/23]
View answerBaineann mo cheist le scoil faoi leith i nGaillimh agus go háirithe leis an rochtain atá ag muintir na háite atá in abhantrach na scoile uirthi. My question relates to a specific school in Galway but it has more general application in regard to the difficulties that people on the ground in the catchment area of the school have in accessing this school. I ask the Minister to provide a map of the catchment plan for the school and to address the issues arising.
Under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the board of management on behalf of the school patron. The selection process, and the enrolment policy on which it is based, must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in a particular area. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data in a way that takes account of local and regional variations, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. School planning areas have evolved over time but, in broad terms, take account of traditional post-primary enrolment patterns, natural boundaries, census small areas and other local conditions. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that it is my Department’s intention to publish the parameters of all 314 school planning areas in the coming weeks on gov.ie.
The Department uses a geographical information system, GIS, to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including child benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity, is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department’s projections of school place requirements.
The school under reference by the Deputy is in the Galway city school planning area, where there are a total of 11 post-primary schools. In line with the Department's demographic projections of post-primary school place requirements, there has been a continued growth in enrolments in the Galway city school planning area. In response, the Department is providing further significant additional post-primary capacity, including two new 1,000-pupil school buildings for St. Joseph's College - the Bish - and Coláiste Mhuire Máthair. Both of these projects will provide enhanced accommodation for existing schools which will provide a total of 500 additional school places above the current enrolment levels. The St. Joseph's project is at stage 2b, which is the developed design and lodgement of planning permission, while the Coláiste Mhuire Máthair is at stage 1, which is the preliminary design stage. In addition, there are a number of further school building projects at other post-primary schools across the city. Nevertheless, my Department is aware of pressures for school places at certain post-primary schools, pending the delivery of these very significant school building projects.
I welcome the fact the Minister is going to publish the parameters, although I am not sure of what. Will that relate to the catchment areas? I realise it is up to the boards of management but very specific issues are arising with huge implications for other policies. The school in question is on the west side of the city and there is a waiting list. Students with different needs, some of them physical and medical needs, cannot access the school of their choice within walking and cycling distance. What is happening is that parents are driving children to other areas, which is completely not aligned with our climate plans and active travel plans. I ask the Minister to deal with the issue of where we go in this regard.
For clarity, the Department of Education does not set out any catchment areas and we have no function in setting out catchment areas for schools. That is the preserve of the boards of management and the Department of Education has no function there.
For the school referenced by the Deputy, it is my understanding that there is no catchment area designed by the board of management. Schools choose to use whatever type of enrolment mechanism, whether a lottery or otherwise, and consequently, as we do not develop catchment areas, we do not have catchment area maps in the Department. I have referenced the school planning area maps. There are 314 school planning areas in the country. We are happy to publish those maps and my understanding is that they will be published online on gov.ie in the coming weeks.
I thank the Minister for clarifying the matter. It is my understanding that the boards of management are free to do what they want with regard to the criteria they set down. However, the catchment area would seem to be one of the most basic requirements, particularly if we are to align our policies with active travel and climate change. It makes no sense for people to be travelling out of the area and across town in desperate traffic. Does the Minister have plans to review what boards of management are doing to see if their plans are aligning with other Government plans, particularly with the Government having declared a climate emergency and given its plans for active travel?
To be fair, our geographical information system, which is based on current information from the CSO or engagement with local authorities, very much informs our projections going forward in terms of the needs in a specific area. I have already outlined that we are conscious of the growing demands.
The Minister might address the issue of alignment with policy.
Boards of management have the autonomy to develop their own unique and individual criteria. No two schools are the same and we are very conscious of that. Individual schools have the autonomy, taking on board what are the individual circumstances in an individual area at any given time, to make their policies with regard to admission. As I said, the Department has no role in developing catchment areas. It is interesting to note that, as I understand it, this school does not have a catchment area policy.
