Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
176. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the works taking place to ensure there will be sufficient secondary school places for the growing population of north Bray, Cherrywood and Shankill. [21019/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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 my Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications
• School of choice
• Single sex schools
• External draw
Notwithstanding the above, in some areas demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
In response to such previously identified demographic pressures, my Department is providing significant additional post primary capacity in the Bray and Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR School Planning Area, including a new school building project with LTPE 1,000 for North Wicklow ET Secondary School which is currently at Project Brief Stage and a new school building project for Cherrywood Post Primary School and Holy Child Community School, these projects are currently at Stage 2b and Stage 1. In addition, there are building projects for extensions of Loreto Secondary School, Bray and Woodbrook College, Bray which are at Stage 2b and Stage 1. As well as extension projects for Cabinteely Community School and St. Laurence College these projects are both at Stage 1.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to 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.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in the school planning areas of Bray, Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR and Ballybrack_Shankill_DLR, as with other areas across the country, under review.
