We, the undersigned parents and residents of Portmarnock, politicians and vested parties, urgently call on the Government to address the severe and ongoing shortage of primary and secondary school places in our area.

Despite clear and well-documented rapid population growth, Portmarnock families are facing an unacceptable educational crisis. Many children cannot go to primary school this year due to high demand and significant capacity shortages. Last year, the waitlist generally impacted children born in December of the eligible year and onwards. This year, the cutoff has moved significantly earlier, with children born as early as October 2021 being placed on waitlists. This situation is indefensible.

The consequences are severe:

  • Children and parents experience unnecessary stress, long commutes, and uncertainty at a critical stage of development.
  • Families will be forced into multiple daily school drop-offs and pick-ups, often outside the catchment area- this will particularly impact working parents.
  • Parents face significant additional financial pressure due to an extra year or more in childcare without continued ECCE support.
  • The childcare sector is under acute strain, as children cannot transition to primary school, preventing younger children from accessing places.
  • Traffic congestion, road safety risks, and environmental impacts will escalate significantly in an already congested area due to increased school-related journeys.
  • This crisis will carry forward to secondary school places in 5-7 years time.

Planned school building projects and capacity expansions in Portmarnock have been delayed, which is unacceptable, despite clear policy commitments. The impact of these delays is now being borne directly by children and families.

This predictable and avoidable crisis directly contradicts the Government’s own commitments and policies, including:

  • Project Ireland 2040, which requires aligned planning between housing growth and school provision.
  • The Action Plan for Education, which prioritises access, equality, and timely school placement.
  • First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, which commits to supporting early childhood transitions and reducing financial pressure on families.
  • Article 42 of the Constitution of Ireland, which guarantees the right to education and places a duty on the State to provide for it.
  • The Department of Education’s Forward Planning Section, whose role is to ensure sufficient school places in line with demographic growth.
  • The National Development Plan (NDP) 2021–2030, which commits to timely delivery of educational infrastructure.
  • The Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce unnecessary car journeys — a goal undermined by forced long-distance car dependent school travel.

We therefore demand immediate and decisive action, including:

  1. Formal recognition of Portmarnock as an area of critical and urgent educational need.
  2. Urgent prioritisation and acceleration of all planned primary and secondary school projects in Portmarnock under the Department of Education Capital Programme.
  3. An immediate Capacity Increase with the sanctioning and funding for an additional Junior Infant class in St Marnock’s NS for the 2026/2027 intake.
  4. Clear, publicly communicated timelines for the delivery of new school places.

📢 Please sign this petition to get this much needed issue addressed.