Greystones secondary school places
Green Party Councillor for Greystones, Lourda Scott, has expressed deep frustration at the ongoing lack of action from the Department of Education to resolve the crisis of secondary school places in the Greystones area. Despite raising this issue last year and warning of the consequences for September 2025, no substantial plan has been put forward to guarantee every child a place in school.
Speaking after submitting a parliamentary question to Minister McEntee and receiving what she described as a “deeply inadequate response,” Cllr Scott said:
“The Department’s repeated assurances that every child will have a school place ring hollow when we are now at the end of May. I flagged this exact issue this time last year and specifically warned of impending issues and a contingency plan to be put in place for 2025. Yet I am being contacted by parents with the the same problem again, and yet the Department continues to rely on vague statements.
Cllr Scott criticised the reliance on data-sharing initiatives and school-level efforts to resolve what is clearly a failure in long-term planning:
“Planning the move to secondary school is a big step for any child and by now uniforms are being bought, induction evenings have taken place and mixers of incoming first years are being organised. To be a child without a secondary school place at this stage of the year is incredibly stressful for both child and their family. I have heard from over half a dozen parents in recent weeks who are worried sick. They should not have to fight for something as basic as a school place. The Department's approach amounts to nothing more than reactive crisis management rather than proper forward planning.”
She continued:
“This is not a sustainable way to manage education in one of Ireland’s fastest-growing areas. Pressure on secondary school places has been highlighted for the past seven years, yet progress on buildings and extensions has progressed extremely slowly. I urge all our TDs in County Wicklow to demand proper accountability and a quick resolution to this from the Department of Education The children of Greystones deserve better. Families need clarity and action, not more empty reassurances.”
FINISH
PIC: Cllr Scott at TCG school , Greystones
Answer to PQ below:
625. [24495/25]
I 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 €177 million in school infrastructure across County Wicklow. 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 the Greystones school planning area for the 2025/26 school year. The Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools, including in Greystones, 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 have been put in place again for the 2025/26 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including Greystones. The admissions data provided by schools allows the Department to analyse duplicate applications as there can be significant overlap in areas. My Department is aware of a small number of applicants without a school place in the Greystones school planning area for the 2025/26 academic year. Department officials will continue to engage with schools and patrons in Greystones in the weeks ahead to monitor demand and ensure every child has a school place for September 2025.
I want to assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work to ensure a school place for every child in Greystones.
