Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 September 2025
249. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students in Galway city, due to enter mainstream classes in second level this year, who had not secured places by the end of the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49543/25]
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 of mine.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €224 million in school infrastructure across County Galway. The department is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place.
My department is aware of pressures for school places in school planning areas, including Galway City, for the 2025/26 school year. The department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools with a view to helping the admissions process for 2025/26 run as smoothly as possible.
Furthermore, the data sharing arrangements that were in place for the 2024/25 admissions process were put in place again for the 2025/26 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including Galway City. The admissions data provided by schools allows the department to analyse duplicate applications as there can be significant overlap in areas. My department’s analysis of the Galway City school planning area highlights that there are more places available that sixth class students.
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. The availability of places is a matter for each individual school in the context of their Admissions legislation. The specific data requested by the Deputy is not available at this time.
In order to assist with the enrolment of children without a school place, the department shares information on available capacity with the Education Welfare Service which is part of TESS and which operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation, and retention.
The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers. Contact details are available on Tusla’s website. My department will continue to work to ensure every child across the country including in Galway city school planning area has a school place.
