Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has slammed the government for once again failing to provide enough school places for children in Greystones, warning that with the academic year just weeks away, there are still students without a secondary school place.
“This is absolutely disgraceful. The Minister for Education personally gave commitments to myself and to local families that no child in Greystones would be without a school place this September. Yet here we are, in August, and families are still being left in limbo. They are anxious, frustrated and completely ignored,” said Brady.
“This is not a new problem. I have raised the issue of post-primary school places in Greystones year after year. Each time we are met with warm words and empty promises from the Department. Despite clear evidence of growing population pressures, the government continues to fail to plan ahead. This is a mess of their making.”
Brady acknowledged the efforts of local schools and staff in doing all they can to support families:
“I want to pay credit to the principals, teachers and school communities who have tried their best to accommodate as many students as possible. But they can only work with what they are given, and the reality is that the Department has not provided the necessary resources or long-term planning to meet the demand in our area.”
The crisis is not limited to Greystones. Brady also highlighted a worsening shortage of primary school places in Rathnew and Wicklow Town, where children are still without a place in Junior Infants.
“We are now seeing the same problem play out in our primary schools. In Rathnew and Wicklow Town there is a chronic shortage of places, and many families still have no Junior Infant place secured. This is causing massive stress and disruption for parents and children alike, and it is completely unacceptable.”
Brady confirmed he has written to the Minister for Education again this week to demand immediate action.
“I have called on the Minister to intervene as a matter of urgency. No child should be left without a school place in September. That is the bare minimum we should expect from a functioning education system. Families in Wicklow deserve better than this endless cycle of crisis and inaction.”
“This is absolutely disgraceful. The Minister for Education personally gave commitments to myself and to local families that no child in Greystones would be without a school place this September. Yet here we are, in August, and families are still being left in limbo. They are anxious, frustrated and completely ignored,” said Brady.
“This is not a new problem. I have raised the issue of post-primary school places in Greystones year after year. Each time we are met with warm words and empty promises from the Department. Despite clear evidence of growing population pressures, the government continues to fail to plan ahead. This is a mess of their making.”
Brady acknowledged the efforts of local schools and staff in doing all they can to support families:
“I want to pay credit to the principals, teachers and school communities who have tried their best to accommodate as many students as possible. But they can only work with what they are given, and the reality is that the Department has not provided the necessary resources or long-term planning to meet the demand in our area.”
The crisis is not limited to Greystones. Brady also highlighted a worsening shortage of primary school places in Rathnew and Wicklow Town, where children are still without a place in Junior Infants.
“We are now seeing the same problem play out in our primary schools. In Rathnew and Wicklow Town there is a chronic shortage of places, and many families still have no Junior Infant place secured. This is causing massive stress and disruption for parents and children alike, and it is completely unacceptable.”
Brady confirmed he has written to the Minister for Education again this week to demand immediate action.
“I have called on the Minister to intervene as a matter of urgency. No child should be left without a school place in September. That is the bare minimum we should expect from a functioning education system. Families in Wicklow deserve better than this endless cycle of crisis and inaction.”