Local Councillor Highlights Lack Of School Places Ahead Of Upcoming New Term

Some children in Greystones and Newtownmountkennedy remain without a school place for September 2025

With just two weeks left until the return of many schools in Co. Wicklow four children remain without places in two local areas.

A child who attended primary school in Bray has yet to be accommodated at secondary level in the town.

Three other children have not accommodated by virture of attending schools in one area and applying for places elsewhere in Newtownmountkennedy and Greystones.

Local Independent councillor Orla Finn says it highlights how a new secondary school in Newtownmountkennedy is desperately needed:

''Obviously the schools are at capacity but in one case we actually have two siblings in one of those families who have got school places and the third child is sitting there at home not knowing where they are going to school or if they are actually going to get a place in a secondary school. With the growing population in Newtown and Roundwood there is certainly a need for a school in that area.''

Independent councillor Orla Finn

She added how the situation will only worsen without proper intervention from government:

''If you add up all the children who are in sixth class and the number of school places that will be required for first year in 2026 that there is going to be a big gap there.''

Councillor Finn says there is understandable parental anxiety about such a situation.

''Unfortunately, there are still children in the community who, through no fault of their own, have no place in a secondary school for this September 2025.   With just weeks to go to the start of the school year, the parents and children are understandably extremely worried and upset about this situation. This is not the fault of our local schools who are at capacity and who have done their very best to accommodate all of the kids in the area.  The fault lies with our government, who have given a commitment  that “a school place will be found for every child” and also with the Department of Education, which seems incapable of carrying out its basic role of fulfilling this commitment. This issue also highlights the fact that until we get a new secondary school in Newtownmountkennedy we will be back here again next September 2026.''