'Vast, vast majority' of children get a school place, Department of Education says

When applying for primary school places, children are normally prioritised in terms of siblings they may have at the same school before the hierarchy of dates of birth takes over. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The Department of Education has insisted the “vast majority” of children who apply for a school place in Ireland get one, and most issues arise when parents apply for multiple schools for their children.

When applying for primary school places, children are normally prioritised in terms of siblings they may have at the same school before the hierarchy of dates of birth takes over.

At the Public Accounts Committee, secretary general of the department Bernie McNally said most of the issues surrounding access to school places resulted from parents applying for multiple schools rather than just the one they want.

Ms McNally said: “When that duplication is eliminated, there are 50% less places than are needed," adding she could “absolutely assure that we will provide a school place for every pupil”, although that guarantee would not extend to the preferred choice of school for each student.

Ms McNally acknowledged that not everybody would get their first choice.

Pushed regarding issues of allocation of places in Wicklow by local TD John Brady, Ms McNally reiterated the “vast, vast majority do get a place”, adding in population terms “even the local authority didn’t see the extent of expansion coming”.

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In terms of school places for children with special needs, she said the department was “planning for four special classes in every post-primary school”.

While acknowledging prevalence rates for conditions like autism are rising, she said the department was “mapping where special classes are to ensure that all will have local access”.

Bus Éireann’s policy deems drivers aged over 70 as ineligible to drive school buses.

She restated the Government’s recent commitment to expand the number of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) to 120 countrywide, a development she said was needed as “we shouldn’t have to have parents applying to lots of different schools”.

Meanwhile, she defended Bus Éireann’s policy of deeming drivers aged over 70 as ineligible to drive school buses, citing international precedent.

Applications for tickets for Ireland’s school transport surged when the cost was waived by the State in 2022 on foot of the cost-of-living crisis, with a lack of drivers one of the reasons routinely blamed for the shortage of places.

While school bus drivers must be aged under 70, someone can legally drive a private coach up until the age of 75 under the revised rules of the national driver licence service.

Ms McNally said that, while the policy is that of Bus Éireann, international best practice — notably in Canada and Finland — suggests driver risk greatly increases from the age of 70 onwards.