It is understood that around half of Ireland’s secondary schools will be under pressure for the coming school year due to a sharp increase in local populations.
Some of the worst shortages will be felt in Dublin and commuter belt counties, according to reports.
Although the Department of Education has said there are more than enough school places available in Ireland, it is areas that have experienced rapid growth that will be most under pressure.
The National Association of Principals and Deputies spoke on Newstalk this morning and recommended that parents in those pressure zones apply to more than one school.
“As a prudent parent, obviously you want to send your child to the school of your choice or maybe where their friends are going, but in particular pinch point areas, if you only apply to one school and you find that your application has been unsuccessful, you have have a worrying situation where you don’t have a place for your child to start next September."
NAPD Director, Paul Crone, went on to say: “So, the prudent advice would be to apply to a number of schools.”
However, Mr. Crone went on to say that parent should not accept a place in more than one school.
“I know schools in pinch point areas have been urged and encouraged, and they are working together to try and curb the issue of multiple enrolments and multiple acceptances.
“I know the Department [of Education] are upgrading their system - the post primary online database - where if a student accepts a place it’ll be flagged that they’ve already accepted a place, so maybe that’ll ease that multiple acceptance piece.”
While Mr. Crone acknowledged that it is a stressful thing for parents, not knowing if they will be able to get a school place, he said “it’s important that the department have come out and confirmed that there is capacity in the system.”
