1483. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that a school in County Kildare is oversubscribed; and if she will outline the actions her Department is taking to address this for the local community. [63340/26]

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.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a new school building has recently been completed for the school in question comprising 24 mainstream classrooms and 2 special education classrooms and was occupied in September 2026.

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. An annual school capacity management process is undertaken by my department, to ensure that sufficient school places are available to meet demand each year at both primary and post-primary level, including for children and young people with special educational needs.

This process involves ongoing analysis of enrolment trends, demographic data and projected intake at school planning area level, as well as direct engagement with schools, patrons and management bodies. Each school planning area is kept under review on an ongoing basis, with particular regard to projected pupil intake, existing school capacity and emerging enrolment pressures.

Where potential capacity pressures are identified, my Department engages directly with the relevant schools and patrons, including through data-sharing arrangements where appropriate, to better understand application patterns and overlapping demand. This supports timely interventions to ensure sufficient school places are available for the forthcoming school year.

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.

I want to assure the Deputy that my department will continue to work to ensure a school place for every child in County Kildare.