Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
1392. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of first-year places available in all post-primary schools in the Galway city and Oranmore school planning area for the 2026-2027 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25310/26]
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 of mine.
To support families during the post-primary admissions process for the 2026/27 school year, the department has put several measures in place, particularly in areas where demand is high, such as Galway City. As part of these measures, the data-sharing arrangements between schools and the department have been put in place again for the 2026/27 admissions process. This allows the department to better understand application patterns and respond where overlap between schools is causing delays.
The provision of post-primary school places and the operation of admissions processes are matters for individual school authorities, in line with their published admissions policies and relevant legislation. Schools determine their own intake numbers and maintain their own enrolment and waiting list information.
The Department does not centrally collate or hold a definitive dataset of available places or waiting lists by school planning area. Information on first-year intake numbers for individual schools is published in each school’s Admissions Notice on their respective websites. National enrolment data is available on gov.ie.
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. 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 want to assure you that the department will continue to work closely with schools and patrons to ensure that every child in Galway City is offered a school place.
