Quinn announces 100 new primary school places for south Dublin

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has announced the provision of close to 100 additional primary* school places in the heart of his constituency.

The Dublin South East TD said he was responding to unprecedented demand from parents in Ranelagh, Donnybrook and neighbouring areas, driven by the changed demographics in the area.

Parents who had been turned away from three schools in Dublin 4 will now be offered places in the coming days.

An extra junior infant class is being created at Shellybanks Educate Together in Ballsbridge, which opens in September 2014 with two other such classes already planned for the new school.

Extra junior infant classes are also being created at St Brigid’s Primary School in Ballsbridge and St Mary’s National School in Donnybrook.

The places will be offered in line with the school’s existing admissions policies. The Department of Education says the decision will be cost neutral as the children would have to have been accommodated somewhere.

Noting that he had received a lot of corresondence from concerned parents, Mr Quinn said he wished to ensure “no child is left without a school place”.

* This article was amended on April 9th to correct an error.