Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

School Enrolments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021

Thursday, 1 July 2021

Ceisteanna (39)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

39. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education her plans to address the shortage of secondary school places for children in the catchment area surrounding Milltown, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35295/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including Killorglin-Miltown School Planning Area (SPA)

Where capacity issues 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 there are not available to all pupils

- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities, the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known. My Department has been engaging with all school authorities in Killorglin Milltown SPA in relation to post-primary school places for September 2021 and all available options are being considered.

My Department is currently considering an application for additional accommodation from one of the post-primary in the SPA and I understand there may spare capacity in another post-primary school in the area.

Barr
Roinn