KILDARE: Department of Education 'has no request for school extension in Sallins'

The Department of Education says it is not in receipt of any applications from Sallins National School about  the purchase of land, or plans to extend the school building.

A DoE spokesperson said it is open to the school to apply for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. 

The purpose of the  ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, with data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. 

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With this information, it carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

While the Department is aware of demand for school places in the Naas school planning area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the different  factors.

These include duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area. Also,  pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town or area.          Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils. Another factor is “external draw” – pupils coming from outside the local area.

The department was responding to criticism by local politicians that the school is full and pupils have to attend schools outside the town.