Update: Maynooth Post Primary School Placements – Education 4th December, 2014

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to
the concerns and frustrations of parents of children in Maynooth, County
Kildare whose children find themselves unable to obtain a place if Maynooth
post primary school notwithstanding protracted deliberation surrounding the
setting up of two separate schools on the same site when the parent’s choice
was a single school entity on a senior and junior cycle basis which would have
eliminated the possibility of any such issues; if the situation may be
re-examined as a matter of urgency with a view to resolution; and if she will
make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.

As the Deputy will be aware, many representations have been received, and much
consideration has been given to this matter.  

As previously outlined, for compelling educational reasons and to safeguard the
integrity of the patronage determination process, both the new post-primary
school for Maynooth, which opened in September this year to meet demographic
need, and the existing post-primary school will operate as fully €“vertical
post-primary schools delivering both the junior and senior cycle.  There is no
change to this position.

My Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can,
between them, cater for all pupils seeking places.  This may result, however,
in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.