Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
606. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school placement will be provided for a child (details supplied); and the reason her Department holds the view that existing schools can cope with the number of children in Kilkenny city when the evidence indicates there is a long waiting list for each school. [15311/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra607. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will be provided in schools for a child (details supplied); the action her Department is taking to resolve the waiting lists in Kilkenny city for those wishing to attend secondary schools in the city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15312/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra608. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will be provided for a child (details supplied); and the number of students in Kilkenny city and county. [15313/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 606 to 608, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to schools admission, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This 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 Deputy will note however that the selection process procedures and enrolment policy are the responsibility of the individual school authorities.
Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parent’s choice are respected.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 where a board of management make a decision to refuse enrolment, a parent/guardian can appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Where the appeal involves an Education and Training Board (ETB) school, the appeal must be made to the local ETB in the first instance. Further information on the Section 29 Appeals process is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/Appeal-against-Permanent-Exclusion-Suspension-or-Refusal-to-Enrol/
In addition, the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the legal body which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school placement for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718815.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board has confirmed that places for first year applicants are available in Coláiste Pobail Osrai and Kilkenny City Vocational School (KCVS). It is open to the parents /guardians of the children concerned to make direct contact with the schools should they wish to submit an enrolment application to these schools. The schools may be contacted through the following email addresses: Cathy.Mcsorley@KCVS.ie and for Coláiste Pobail Osrai, priomhoide@osrai.ie.
I wish to confirm to the Deputy that in the school planning area for post primary schools in County Kilkenny, the total number of pupil enrolments for the 2019/2020 academic year was 8,320 of which 4,640 pupils were enrolled in post primary schools in Kilkenny City.
