Dept 'working with patrons on capacity at local schools'

The Department of Education and Youth is working with school patrons to increase the capacity of existing schools to better cater for the demand for school places in Mullingar.

A spokesperson stated: “The Department of Education and Youth has a robust, evidence based, forward planning process for monitoring the current and projected future demographic demand for school places. This forward planning process analyses the demand for school places at School Planning Area level and also at a more granular settlement level to allow the department to respond to local demands.

“The data used to inform the demographic demand analysis includes enrolment data, child benefit data, census and CSO data and information of planned new residential developments. Enrolment and child benefit data is updated annually and geocoded to the 19,000 small areas across the country. This allows the department to analyse the population of school going children and the schools they attend at a granular level.

“There has been extensive new residential development in Mullingar. While there are some capacity constraints in primary schools in Mullingar town, recent Child Benefit data indicates that Junior Infant place requirements are not projected to increase significantly in the short to medium term. The department are working with school patrons to increase the capacity of existing schools to better cater for the school place demand within the town.

“In relation to demand at post primary, data available to highlights there are more first year places than sixth class children in the Mullingar School Planning area. For the 2024/25 academic year 8.6% of first year places were unfilled in Mullingar.

Planned additional capacity at St. Finian’s College to cater for 1,300 pupils when complete will also help alleviate pressure at post primary level.

“The demand for primary and post primary school places in Mullingar will continue to be kept under review, in conjunction with the monitoring of new and planned new residential developments, in consultation with Westmeath County Council.”

Minister Peter Burke acknowledged that there are some families who have not received an offer of a primary school place for their child. In a statement to the Examiner, he said: “I have had contact from some parents who have not received an offer of a school place for September, and I can totally appreciate the upset and anxiety that can cause. I am also aware of parents who have been accepted to multiple schools after applying to more than one school in their local area. Children on waiting lists are generally facilitated at a later date.

“We have seen unprecedented investment in school infrastructure over the last five years in Westmeath, with €167 million spent across 31 building projects. This includes a €20 million investment in Mercy Kilbeggan and €17 million at St Finian’s, Mullingar, with many more projects in the pipeline to ensure school capacity can keep pace with population growth.

“Although there has been significant investment in capital projects, I am aware of the pressure currently facing schools in terms of additional space at both primary and secondary level. I have raised these issues robustly with the minister and will continue to push for progress on all projects currently in the pipeline.

“Special education is an area of priority for this government, and additional special needs classes have been sanctioned this year in St Cremin’s NS, Multyfarnham, Clonmellon NS, St Colman’s, and more. Those classes are vital to ensuring children with additional needs can reach their full potential within their local communities.

“There are arms of the state tasked with making the school enrolment process as smooth as possible for parents, and both Education Welfare Officers and the National Council for Special Education have staff dedicated to assisting families in this regard.

“I fully acknowledge that it can be a difficult time if you do not receive a place first time around, but in my experience, there is a balancing out of demand in the end.

“For some parents, enrolling their children in country schools may be an option. I am also acutely aware of the wider issues around school transport and after-school services, and I will continue to raise these matters with my colleague, Minister Hildegarde Naughton, TD.”

Minister of State Robert Troy, TD, added in his statement: “The National Development Plan commits to spending over €7bn on educational infrastructure between now and 2030, which is significant funding to ensure that children in our communities have access to best education possible. Over the last five years, 31 schools in Westmeath have seen upgrades through new buildings, extensions, or modular add-ons. Right now there are 10 school projects under construction in the county.

“Westmeath has seen population growth in each of the last six censuses and access to services is something which is raised with me in clinics and on the doorsteps. I plan on raising the concerns of our communities with Minister Hildegarde Naughton to ensure that Westmeath can support the educational needs of a growing population.

“It is also important for parents to consider all schools within a locality. While the closest school can understandably be the preference, I am aware of some schools in the county that hare having difficulty retaining teachers due to low uptake of places. So with that in mind I would encourage parents to look at all their options.”