Dozens of parents appealing denial of places for their children at oversubscribed schools

The appeals figure is highest in Dublin, with 27 appeals on the grounds of oversubscription, followed by Kildare with 22 appeals, Meath with 12 and Cork with seven.

Dozens of parents are currently appealing the decision of oversubscribed schools to deny their child a place, as enrolment pressures are set to continue for the upcoming school year.

Figures from the Department of Education show that 85 parents currently have lodged Section 29 appeals with boards of management around the country.

The figure is highest in Dublin, with 27 appeals on the grounds of oversubscription, followed by Kildare with 22 appeals, Meath with 12 appeals and Cork, seven appeals.

While at national level, there are 10,000 more first year places available for the upcoming school year than sixth class children, enrolment pressures are set to continue in certain areas, mostly in the Dublin commuter belt or in areas that developed quickly in recent years. 

Section 29 appeals allow parents to appeal the decision of a school when it refuses to admit a student, suspends a student for not less than 20 days or permanently excludes a student.

The breakdown of the Section 29 appeals was released to Social Democrats TD for Kildare North Aidan Farrelly via parliamentary question. School capacity issues are evident across the board, but particularly in his constituency, he said.

“We’re seeing it with special school places, we’re seeing it with autism classes, but we’re also seeing it with mainstream classes in areas of significant population increases, like Cork, Dublin, Galway and particularly Kildare in this instance. 

"We aren’t seeing the infrastructure necessary to live in a community develop at the same pace as population growth. For us, it's about time we ensure forward planning really recognizes that for a small family to buy a home they require public transport, they require facilities, and they require school places at a minimum.”

Not many parents know about the Section 29 process, he said, adding that he believes the 22 appeals recorded in Kildare are "not even scratching the surface". 

"The application and the enrolment process is probably well overdue for reform.”

Early in the school year, the Department of Education advised all parents of children in sixth class to apply to multiple schools in areas of high demand, and requested they avoid holding multiple places.