Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
383. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has engaged with Newbridge secondary schools on projected enrolments for 2026; her plans for temporary accommodation in Newbridge schools; and when these details will be confirmed. [65468/25]
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 €382 million in school infrastructure across County Kildare. 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.
Furthermore, the data sharing arrangements that were in place for the 2025/26 admissions process have been put in place again for the 2026/27 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including Newbridge. The admissions data provided by schools will allow the department to analyse duplicate applications as there can be significant overlap in areas.
The Deputy will appreciate that there can often be significant overlap across areas and schools, and the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex. As a result, there can be multiple iterations, where applicants may accept a place but subsequently be offered and accept a place at a second school, freeing up capacity at the first school accepted. In that context, it may take some time for my department to fully review the availability of post-primary school places in Newbridge while the admissions process continues to progress.
There are a number of active projects at post-primary level that will increase capacity in Newbridge, including a new school building project for Patrician Secondary School which will provide for LTPE of 1,000 and six special education classrooms, this project is currently at Stage 3. In addition, there are extension projects for St Conleth's Community College and Holy Family Secondary School, both projects are at Stage 1.
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 Newbridge school planning area, as with other areas across the country, under review.
