David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the optimal figure of enrolment her Department has in place for second-level schools in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37888/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

The key drivers of capital investment in the school sector include:

• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level

• increased demand for special educational needs provision

• alignment of school place provision with new housing development

• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.

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.

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.

With regard to the optimum size of post-primary schools, where the Department is establishing a new school in response to demographic demand, the projected enrolment capacity would be a minimum of 600 students. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí.

For existing schools, their optimum size is dependent on local circumstances including demographics and capacity requirements in the area, the size of existing schools, and their potential to expand. Schools must also consider the needs of their own student cohort and school community, including around the programmes it offers, and subject options. Ultimately, it is a matter for each school’s Board of Management to set its Admissions Policy and the number of places it is making available in its annual Admissions Notice.