Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
96. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to reduce the waiting lists for students in primary and secondary schools in North Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35763/26]
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.
The annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary level and new First Years at post-primary level is a very large-scale operation that is transacted across close to 4,000 schools nationwide, involving approximately 140,000 pupils. My Department works closely with schools, patrons and management bodies to ensure that there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children and young people.
In this regard, my Department continued its data-sharing arrangements, consistent with previous years, across a number of school planning areas, including a number of areas in County Kildare. The data gathered indicated that the vast majority of areas had sufficient capacity to cater for demand. However, a small number of areas experienced capacity pressures and, in response, my Department engaged directly with schools to increase intake and ensure that sufficient capacity was available, including in Maynooth, Celbridge, Naas and Leixlip.
While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that such pressures can be driven by a range of factors including duplication of applications, applications from outside an area, and school of choice considerations. Notwithstanding this, in some areas demographic growth and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
The Department continues to work with schools, patrons and management bodies to monitor enrolment trends and to ensure that sufficient capacity is available to meet demand in Co. Kildare and nationally.
