Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015
156. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the situation whereby more than 120 applicants cannot access a place in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15, in particular the case of approximately 20 students from feeder schools; and the measures taken to relieve this situation. [3263/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, 2 new post primary schools have been established by my Department in recent years in the Dublin 15 area to meet demographic demand. The school to which the Deputy refers is a 1,000 pupil post-primary school. Since the school commenced operation, the school authorities have enrolled children commensurate with the level of demand in the area. However, the Department has been advised that the school must curtail enrolments from September 2015, as to continue with the previous enrolment levels would leave the school in an untenable position into the future with regard to its accommodation. However, the second new post primary school in the area which opened in September 2014 has advised my Department that they have the capacity to enrol additional children from 2015 onwards. In that regard therefore, my Department is satisfied that there are sufficient school pupil places overall to meet the demand in the area in question. This may sometimes, however, lead to pupils not being offered a place in their school of first preference.
