Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 December 2023
97. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a schedule of application numbers; the criteria as per admissions policy; and the number of places available and waiting list numbers in respect of all primary- and second-level schools in north Kildare and north Wicklow for the school year 2024/2025. [55740/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department.
The Department is aware of pressures for school places in School Planning Areas across North Kildare and North Wicklow. A critical next step is to acquire clarity on the actual number of additional first year places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, including Maynooth, Prosperous_Clane, Kilcock, Celbridge, Newcastle-Rathcoole, Greystones and Kilcoole have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established.
This close engagement with schools and patrons will also allow the Department to identify particular further capacity requirements for the forthcoming years and put any required solutions in place - beyond those that are already in train - to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area. It is hoped that this data will be received in the shortest timeframe possible to allow for planning to begin on any specific actions which are required.
To further inform our planning, school management bodies are assisting with a detailed analysis of school capacity in a number of areas, taking account of school-specific factors such as current class groupings and subject offerings.
The specific information requested is not available at this time.
I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students throughout North Kildare and North Wicklow for the 2024/25 school year and into the future. Families can be assured that any necessary solution will be delivered so that all of the children in the North Kildare School Planning Areas will receive a first year place.
