Education Minister: more school places needed in Galway City
Published:
-
-
Author: Dara Bradley
~ 2 minutes read
From this week's Galway City Tribune
From the Galway City Tribune – Minister for Education Norma Foley said extra secondary school places were needed in Galway City, following claims of hundreds of children on lengthy waiting lists.
Minister Foley said the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level was an “absolute priority” of the Department of Education.
She said Department officials are “aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in Galway City”.
Minister Foley said the pressures for school places in Galway City may not solely be related to a lack of schools or classrooms. It could be driven by several factors including duplication of applications, single sex schools with availability but not for all pupils, and pupils not being able to get into their preferred school, and pupils coming from outside the local area.
She was responding to a Parliamentary Question submitted by Fianna Fáil colleague, Galway West TD, Éamon Ó Cuív, who asked if she was aware of the long waiting lists for admission to second levels schools in Galway City for the 2023/24 academic year.
Senator Seán Kyne (FG) also recently raised this issue in Seanad Éireann.
He said that more than 850 children are on waiting lists to get into secondary schools in Galway City at the start of the new term in September.
This article first appeared in the print edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism by subscribing to the Galway City Tribune HERE. A one-year digital subscription costs just €89.00. The print edition is in shops every Friday.
Senator Kyne said duplication was not the issue; the lack of capacity was an immediate problem, and a solution needed to be found by the Department before September.
He told the Seanad there are waiting lists of up to 160 in Coláiste Mhuire Mháthair; 360 in Coláiste Éinde; 148 in Galway Educate Together Secondary School; 91 in Coláiste Iognáid (The Jes); and 99 in St. Joseph’s ‘The Bish’.
Minister Foley acknowledged there were “pressures” in response to Deputy Ó Cuív.
“Through close engagement with school patrons and authorities, my Department has established a requirement for additional school places in Galway City.
“Engagement is ongoing with schools and patrons with a view to making increased provision where necessary,” Minister Foley told the Dáil.
More like this:
Glór Tíre success is a ‘milestone’ for Galway country star
The year is only four months old – but already Galway country music star Claudia Buckley can desc...
Marty Party takes flight!
Last year he took his inaugural Marty Party on the road all over Ireland – but this time broadcas...
New double-deckers will sate increased demand
Bus Éireann plans to deploy two double-decker coaches to help sate soaring demand for buses to an...
Additional GP clinics to operate in Galway this bank holiday to take pressure off UHG
Additional GP clinics are to operate in Galway this bank holiday to take pressure off UHG The Gal...
Coláiste Iognáid students make Senior category of National Student Enterprise final
Transition Year Coláiste Iognáid students have reached the national finals of the Student Enterpr...
Spiddal launch for new programme for female entrepreneurs in Gaeltacht areas
A new programme for female entrepreneurs in the Gaeltacht areas of Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Kerry, ...
Fleadh na gCuach Kinvara festival celebrates it’s 30th anniversary
Fleadh na gCuach celebrates its 30th anniversary this bank holiday weekend in Kinvara. The festiv...
Fianna Fail city election team makes combined call for €70 million investment in local roads
The Fianna Fail city election team is making a combined call for a €70 million investment in loca...
Éamon Ó Cuív tells Dáil people in Connemara West facing unfair disadvantage with health services
Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív says people in West Connemara are at an unfair geographical disadvant...