asked the Minister for Education whether he disapproves of the admission of children under the age of twelve years to secondary schools which are not within the Department's free scheme; and whether the prospects of a school outside the scheme successfully applying to join the scheme would be jeopardised by the presence in such school of children under the age of twelve.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Free Education Scheme.
92.
A pupil who is less than twelve years of age on the 1st day of January of the school year is ineligible for recognition in any secondary school whether or not it participates in the free post-primary education scheme. This rule is based on educational grounds which I explained in reply to a question on the 6th of this month.
It is not, therefore, a factor in a school joining or remaining outside the scheme of free education.