108. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to expand primary school capacity in north Kildare, considering that schools are currently operating considerable waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46369/26]

109. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to expand secondary school capacity in north Kildare, considering that schools are currently operating considerable waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46370/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.

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 provided over €414 million in capital funding for Kildare schools. Over this period, a total of 55 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. As per the NDP Implementation Plan, 12 school projects were included and are due to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. In addition, there are currently 14 school projects in Kildare under construction. Further details on school building projects can be found on the department’s website: www.gov.ie.

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. While my department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplication 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.

Primary school enrolments at a national level have been in decline for a number of years and this downward demographic trend is also now apparent at first year post primary level. There are, however, continued pressures in some areas where there is high demand with continued population growth and housing development driving the need for additional school places.

Regarding post-primary school places, the data sharing arrangements that were in place for the 2025/26 admissions process were in place again for the 2026/27 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including areas in North Kildare.

For the 2025/26 academic year, across North Kildare school planning areas of Celbridge, Kilcock, Leixlip, Maynooth, Naas and Prosperous_Clane, a total of 3.49% of first year places were unfilled.

I wish to advise the Deputy that 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.

The provision of primary and post-primary school places, and the operation of admissions processes are matters for individual school authorities, in line with their published admissions policies and relevant legislation. Schools determine their own intake numbers and maintain their own enrolment and waiting list information. The department does not centrally collate or hold a definitive dataset of available places or waiting lists by school planning area. Information on junior infant and first-year intake numbers for individual schools is published in each school’s Admissions Notice on their respective websites. National enrolment data is available on www.gov.ie.