Hanafin denies failing to plan for school overcrowding

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin is defending the school system amid accusations that it can't cope with overcrowding.

An emergency primary school in north Dublin has been forced to delay its opening because more than 100 children tried to enrol for just 30 places.

The Bracken Educate Together School in Balbriggan was set up two weeks ago to cater for a surplus from other schools in the area.

Teachers' unions are accusing Ms Hanafin of bad planning, but she is insisting that the problem is not as serious as it is being made out to be.

"There are major challenges throughout the whole developing Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford areas, but we're working very closely with the local authorities to meet those challenges," she said today.