Major overhaul of Tullamore-area school admissions process

The Department of Education has announced that the Tullamore - Killina area is one of five locations where a new streamlined system of secondary school admissions will be piloted later this year.

The news, which was revealed this morning (Thursday), means parents seeking to enrol a child in any of four participating schools - Coláiste Choilm, Sacred Heart Secondary School, Killina Presentation Secondary School, and Tullamore College - must do so through a single online application system.

The online application system, which also incorporates applications for special class places, will open from October 1 this year for school places in September 2026.

"A gamechanger for parents and students," is how Education Minister Helen McEntee described the new system.

Its introduction comes after huge demand for second-level admissions in the Tullamore area left some without a school place at the beginning of the new school year last September.

The Department of Education said there had been "growing pressure" on school admissions, but that "duplicate applications, families choosing specific schools, and students applying from outside the local area" could "make it seem like schools are more full than they are".

The new single application process is of immediate relevance to parents of primary school children who will be in sixth class this coming school year in Tullamore - Killina and the other participating areas of Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty and Greystones.

The Department said "detailed information for parents and guardians" in relation to the new admissions system would be made available in September, prior to the opening of the online application process at the start of October.

It added that the new system was expected to bring "more certainty and clarity for parents" and "reduced administrative overheads" for schools.

Minister McEntee pledged that if the pilot process is successful in the five areas it will be rolled out nationwide.

"This pilot is an important step towards delivering a more efficient, transparent, and equitable school application process," she said. "It will reduce stress for parents and children, ease administrative burdens on schools, and support better planning for school places.

"This pilot allows us to deliver early benefits and gather critical feedback. It also holds transformative potential for families seeking special education placements.

"Stakeholder engagement will be central to the pilot’s success, and I look forward to working closely with schools, patrons, management bodies, and other key stakeholders in the five pilot areas."

The current situation can see parents applying to several schools in high-pressure areas in order to improve their child's chances of securing a place.

Offaly TD Tony McCormack welcomed today's announcement of the new system, saying he had been in close contact with the schools involved and that they were supportive of the pilot process.

"This is really good news for families in Tullamore and Killina," Deputy McCormack commented.

"The schools see the benefits of reducing duplicate applications, easing the stress on parents, and improving planning for the years ahead. It will be especially important for families applying for special class places."

He added that all applications under the new system "will be processed by schools within set timelines" and that this would "give parents greater certainty about school places and simplify planning for schools themselves".

Fellow Offaly TD John Clendennen also welcomed the pilot programme and paid tribute to the four local schools involved.

"I want to commend the leadership and staff at Coláiste Choilm, Sacred Heart Secondary School, Tullamore College and Killina Presentation Secondary School. Their commitment to making this system work will make a real difference for local families," said Deputy Clendennen.