Schools face crisis over lack of places

ParentS of children living in Howth and donaghmede — particularly the Belmayne, Clongriffin and Parkside estates — are having “serious problems” finding schools for September, the dail heard.

The Fianna Fail td for dublin Bay north td, Sean Haughey, told Minister for education norma Foley that additional primary school places are needed across suburban areas of north dublin to meet a growing increase in population.

He said the two schools of Belmayne educate together national School and St Francis of assisi Primary School have been particularly badly affected by a lack of available places.

“They [parents] have been told by the schools that they cannot accommodate any more pupils and that their children will be put on waiting lists,” said Mr Haughey.

“These parents have also applied to other primary schools in the area as well as schools in adjacent school planning areas and catchment areas, including Portmarnock and Malahide, but to no avail.” a project to deliver eight new school classrooms for Colaiste Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol in donaghmede is now at stage one.

He said parents in the Killester, raheny and Clontarf school planning area and in the Beaumont, Coolock area have also made contact about difficulties in sourcing school places.

In response, Minister Foley said “significant additional primary capacity is already being delivered in the area”, including two recently established primary schools. a new 16-classroom building for the Stapolin educate together national School is currently under way.

“There are further projects providing additional capacity at Holy trinity Senior [in donahgmede] and a recent project at Howth national School provided for new classrooms,” she added.

Ms Foley said the department would keep the requirements for school places in the donaghmede and Howth area under “ongoing review”.