Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
354. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department is using the data generated through the apply to school pilot to identify capacity shortfalls in Kildare north; the actions being taken on foot of this data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5135/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe rollout of the pilot Single Online Application for Schools represents a significant step towards improving the school admissions system and delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a nationwide common application system. The Apply to School pilot was introduced to simplify and improve the admissions process for post-primary schools in five pilot areas, including Celbridge. For the first time, this system provides families with a single online application process and introduces synchronised and streamlined timelines for schools to manage admissions and issue offers.
The number of first-year places available in each school is published in the schools’ annual admissions notices, which are available on the individual school websites. According to these admissions notices for the 2026–2027 school year, the three post-primary schools in the Celbridge region are offering a combined total of 390 first-year places. I can confirm that the number of applications for places made in the Celbridge school planning area, in respect of all pupils including those from outside the school planning area using the online Apply to School System, was 573.
It should be noted that some parents may have exercised their right to submit paper-based applications and late applications to the schools, details of which are not available to the Department. While the Apply to School system facilitates the submission of a common applications system for parents, the individual schools retain responsibility for issuing offers based on these applications in accordance with their published admissions policy. The Department does not issue offers and does not hold a centralised record of offer outcomes for individual schools. However, similar to previous years, my department will continue to work closely with patrons and schools in order to ensure that all pupils in the area receive an offer of a school place.
I trust this clarifies the extent of the information requested which my department is in a position to provide at this stage of the admissions process.
