Lack of school places ‘due to lack of planning’

A PARENTS’ group has blamed the Department of Education for the shortage of primary school places that has resulted in one boy having to stay at home.

Fionnuala Kilfeather, chief executive of the National Parents’ Council (Primary), said the department should have planned for schools in areas of rapid population growth.

The Irish National Teacher’s Organisation (INTO) said the Department of Education’s planning process was well behind demographic trends, particularly around Dublin.