1439. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied) regarding primary school capacity. [25773/26]

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 for my Department.

The annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new first years at post-primary is a very large-scale operation that is transacted at close to 4,000 schools across the country, involving some 140,000 pupils. My department works with schools, patrons, and management bodies to ensure that there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children.

My department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

The availability of places is a matter for each individual school in the context of their Admissions legislation.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

While the department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, including Portmarnock, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplications of applications, applications from outside an area, and school of choice factors.

Notwithstanding the above, in some areas, demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.

The department has been in contact with schools in Portmarnock and has requested admissions data from each school. It would appear from this data that a proportion of applicants currently without a confirmed place reflects duplicate acceptances, where offers have been held across more than one school.

As this process works through in advance of the school year, the number of students without a place is expected to reduce significantly. My department has been advised of available capacity at other schools in the area. At present there appears to be sufficient capacity in the area to meet demand, however my department will continue to keep the situation under close review.