Department Criticised Over Number Of Secondary School Places Available In Greystones

Green TD Deputy Steven Matthews has said that the lack of foresight from the Department of Education on secondary school places in the Greystones district is extremely frustrating and leads to fear and uncertainty for parents. 

Deputy Matthews said, “The lack of clarity on secondary school places is hugely disappointing and is extremely unfair on those parents and students left in the lurch.  

“Following a meeting that I arranged between the five Wicklow TDs and officials from the Department of Education this week  – I was left frustrated by the lack of forward planning at a strategic level to ensure school places for all children in Greystones. We received various assurances but it shouldn’t have come to this point.  

“We have known for many years that Greystones has a young and rapidly growing population and this situation with the lack of secondary school places was foreseeable. 

I have raised it every year since I was elected as a TD but it goes back further than that.  I cant understand how on one hand the Department says they focus on census data and projected population but on the other didn’t foresee a shortage of secondary school places in Greystones despite being told countless times and it now being an annual issue.

“The lack of forward planning is incredibly frustrating and I can only imagine the stress that it is putting on families that still don’t know where their child will be attending secondary school next September.  This is a stressful and challenging time for families anyway so to have this added on is totally unacceptable.  

“I have been assured that every applicant that qualifies for a school place in Greystones will be accommodated in September 2024 and I will continue to work with the Department and all each of the four secondary schools in the wider Greystones area to reach that goal.”