Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2026
57. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department ascertained the number of school places that are available for September in the Portlaoise area at both primary and secondary level; the level of demand and the overall shortfall at both levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29138/26]
View answerMy Department has a robust, evidence based, forward planning process for monitoring the current and projected future demographic demand for school places. This forward planning process analyses the demand for school places at School Planning Area level and also at a more granular settlement level to allow the department to respond to local demands.
The data used to inform the demographic demand analysis includes enrolment data, child benefit data, census & CSO data and information of planned new residential developments. Enrolment and child benefit data is updated annually and geocoded to the 19 thousand small areas across the Country. This allows the department to analyse the population of school going children and the schools they attend at a granular level.
Under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the board of management on behalf of the school patron. The 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 Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. Living in a particular catchment area is one criteria that a school may apply. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. My department does not intervene in the criteria set by a school.
My Department undertakes an annual school capacity management process to ensure that sufficient school places are available to meet demand each year at both primary and post-primary level, including for children and young people with special educational needs.
This process involves ongoing analysis of enrolment trends, demographic data and projected intake at school planning area level, as well as direct engagement with schools, patrons and management bodies. Each school planning area is kept under review on an ongoing basis, with particular regard to projected pupil intake, existing school capacity and emerging enrolment pressures.
Where potential capacity pressures are identified, the Department engages directly with the relevant schools and patrons, including through data-sharing arrangements where appropriate, to better understand application patterns and overlapping demand. This supports timely interventions to ensure sufficient school places are available for the forthcoming school year.
In response to previous pressure for school places in Portlaoise, my Department liaised with stakeholders in the area and increased provision in Portlaosie Educate Together National School to facilitate this demand. The demand for primary school places in Portlaoise reduced in recent years, however it is increasing again due to the very significant level of residential development in the town. My Department will keep this under review and ensure that every child requiring a school place in the Portlaoise SPA will be provided with one.
