Education Minister asked to address shortage of school places in two Wicklow towns
The Wicklow PeopleThe Education Minister Helen McEntee has been asked to urgently dispatch a senior departmental official to meet with six primary schools in the Wicklow town and Rathnew area, amid a growing crisis in school capacity.
St. Coen's, St. Patrick's, Holy Rosary School, Glebe National School, Educate Together and Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin came together in January, raising concerns with the Department that they would be oversubscribed for the new intake in September.
119 children were identified as not having a place in any of those six schools for the new school term. Of these, 36 are junior infants and the rest are spread across the other school years.
Raising the issue in the Dáil, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow Jennifer Whitmore demanded action on the shortage of places.
“We need a departmental official to go to Wicklow town to meet the six principals. All those schools have finished up for the summer. Those children do not know where they are going, and they must do things like getting uniforms. The children need to be prepared. They are simple things, but they are so important for a good transition. Those children will not be prepared for school.”
In response junior minister Neale Richmond said efforts are being made to address the shortfall.
“The Department of Education and Youth is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools to ensure every child in the State has access to a school place.”
“In relation to the Wicklow school planning area, there are several active projects at primary level which will help increase that capacity. These include extension projects for Pádraig Naofa National School, Scoil na Coróine Mhuire and Wicklow Educate Together National School, which will provide both mainstream and special educational needs classes.”
Deputy Whitmore said a meeting between department officials and school management is of the utmost priority.
“This is an urgent situation. Families are in limbo, and schools are doing everything they can without any support or direction from the Department. A senior official must be sent to meet with these schools immediately to ensure that every child in the area has access to education in September.”
In conclusion Minister Richmond indicated he would raise the matter with the relevant member within the Department of Education.
“The Deputy has made a very clear request for a departmental official to be sent to meet with those principals. Unfortunately, I am not able to guarantee that as I am not a line Minister in the Department, but I have no hesitation in passing on that request to the Minister.” he added.