‘A huge problem still’: Local representatives highlight lack of Kildare school places

A number of local representatives in County Kildare have acknowledged that there is a severe lack of school places in the county.

It follows the release of a new survey by the Irish Primary Principals Network, which found that Kildare is among the poorest performing counties when it comes to schools having enough staff to cover classes.

When asked about the issue by the Leinster Leader, Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O’ Loughlin said: "I have had a number of queries from concerned parents in relation to places for 1st year students.

"I am confident that every student in the area will be accommodated for September 2023, but I acknowledge that this is a stressful time for students and parents.

"However, this is just the first offer and there will be future rounds of offers in the weeks and months ahead."

The Senator, who is also a former teacher, continued: "Duplication of applications (students applying to multiple schools) can make the situation seem worse than it is.

"I understand that the Newbridge/Kildare area will be part of a pilot scheme where an independent third party will have the opportunity to look at all applications for all schools."

She added that there 'is light at the end of the tunnel' with the appointment of a project manager for the new school at Magee barracks.

The Newbridge-based politician added: "I am engaging with the Ministers office on a near daily basis to ensure that every student will have a school place next September."

In this week's Leinster Leader Sport

Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon also said he 'shares the frustration of students and families at the uncertainty that exists at this time.'

"I have raised this with Minister Norma Foley and the Department of Education," he said.

However, Deputy Heydon said that he too is 'confident from previous experience', that all students will be accommodated with a second level place next Autumn.

"We need the Department to work with local schools on their admissions lists and to proactively manage delivery of any extra accommodation that may be required following that process, so that students don’t have to ensure months of being on a waiting list for a school place," he added.

Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender also commented on the situation: "I have had multiple people contacting me regarding very similar issues, including people who live five minutes walk away being refused places based on availability.

"It’s a serious indictment of Newbridge’s situation concerning excessive building and development without the social infrastructure to support it.

"We’ve been told it’s an issue for national government representatives, yet they are more concerned about celebrating the development of the new Curragh Secondary school that will be built in Kildare town, rather than on the fact that even this new school will not meet the current growing needs in the area."

Kildare: Irish retail chain BORN opens new store in Newbridge

SUGGESTIONS

Cllr Pender also outlined some advice to parents who have a child that has been refused a place: "If they believe that the school did not follow their own allocations policy they should begin the process for a section 29 appeal.

"If a child has been refused admission because the school is full, Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal where a board of management or a person acting on behalf of the board of management (normally the school principal) refuses to admit a student to a school, where the decision to refuse admission is due to the school being oversubscribed.

"It is important to note before making an appeal, you must first request a review of the decision by the board of management."

He continued: "Once you have completed the first stage, which is the review by the board of management, you can make an appeal to an independent appeals committee.

"The request for this review must be made in writing to the school’s board of management within 21 calendar days from the date of the decision to refuse admission to the school.

"This date of decision is the date shown on the correspondence from the school containing the decision to refuse admission.

"Also to note, a student who has not been offered a school place and is placed on a waiting list is considered to have been refused a school place.

"The board of management must notify you of the outcome of your application for a review within 42 calendar days from the date of the decision to refuse admission to the school.

"You can proceed to an appeal once you have received the outcome of the review by the board or once 42 calendar days have passed since the decision to refuse admission was made — whichever of these is earliest. Your appeal must be made no later than 63 days following the original decision by the school to refuse admission."

Cllr Pender concluded: "A review can be requested in writing or by fully completing and submitting a Review by Board of Management Request Form (BOMR1), and this form must be sent to the school’s board of management."

'AN EXPLOSION OF ENQUIRIES'

Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Connolly also told the Leader that he has experienced 'an explosion of enquiries' in the last week.

He also spoke about how he was in contact with a woman who told him that her child applied for a place in four different schools.

"They are in their 20s on the waiting list for two schools, in the 30s for another and 150s in the other," he explained: "The Minister (for Education) blames families trying to secure a place by applying to multiple schools... this is a symptom of the problem, rather than the cause."

Cllr Connolly further said that there is also an issue with Special-Needs Assistant places and supports in Kildare.

Independent TD Dr Cathal Berry also told the Leader that he acknowledged the announcement of a new school building on the former Magee Barracks site in Kildare town 'does not adequately address the lack of secondary school places in the Newbridge area.'

"Newbridge needs a new secondary school as soon as possible. I will continue to highlight this important issue with the minister," he added.

Labour Party Senator Mark Wall also confirmed to the Leader that he has received many queries relating to school places, and called it 'a huge problem still.'

The Athy Senator also told the Seanad about his concerns regarding school places in Kildare on Thursday, November 17.

Kildare shop gets accolade at national retail awards

BREAKING: Garda appeal about Kildare collision in which man and woman in their 60s are injured

RESPONSE

When asked for comment by the Leinster Leader, a Department of Education (DOE) spokesperson said: "While the DOE is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Newbridge/ Kildare area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by certain factors."

"These include:

·Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area.
· School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area.
· Some towns/areas have single-sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils.
· External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area."

The spokesperson continued: "The DOE is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities.

"In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities, including those of schools in the Newbridge/ Kildare areas, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.

"This includes engagement with KWETB and Curragh Community College.

"Additionally, the DOE will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects in Newbridge/Kildare, and to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements, both for the coming academic year and into the future.

"This includes the new school building for the Curragh Community College, which will provide 1,000 student places, as well as four classrooms for students with special educational needs, on a site in Kildare town."