Kilmacthomas school oversubscription
Mary Butler raised oversubscription at St. Declan’s Community College in Kilmacthomas, where 21 local pupils could not be accommodated. The Taoiseach said he lacked the details but would ask the Education Minister to respond directly.
Page 86 of the programme for Government contains the statement that education is the key to giving every child an equal opportunity in life. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. A situation has arisen in St. Declan's community college in Kilmacthomas, County Waterford, a school under the patronage of Waterford-Wexford ETB. For the enrolment year 2018-19, demand has exceeded capacity for 21 students who attend local primary schools. A parent whose family lives 426 ft from the school contacted me this morning to say demand had exceeded capacity. The school simply is a victim of its own success. A couple of years ago it was a 120-pupil school, whereas now it takes in 150, but the demand is for 171 places. I had hoped to raise this matter with the Minister for Education and Skills. In the short term the solution is the provision of additional accommodation in the form of prefabs. Will the Taoiseach give the matter his best attention?
Comment on this
I am afraid that I do not have any particular information on the school in Kilmacthomas to which the Deputy refers. Generally, if a school is oversubscribed, additional accommodation is provided or children are given the opportunity to attend other schools in the locality which might have vacancies. Without knowing the details, I cannot comment on the matter further. Certainly, I will inform the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, that the Deputy has raised the matter in the Dáil and ask him to furnish her with a detailed reply.