asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware of the fact that in certain schools in Dublin some students, who have completed their primary education, are being denied the right to proceed to post-primary education therein, while students from other primary schools are being offered accommodation in them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Post-Primary Education.
48.
I am not aware that any pupils who have completed their primary education are being denied the right to proceed to post-primary education, but obviously pupils cannot demand as a right that a place be found for them in a particular school of their own choice.
I did not hear what the Minister's reply was. Perhaps he would read it again?
I am not aware that any pupils who have completed their primary education are being denied the right to proceed to post-primary education, but obviously pupils cannot demand as a right that a place be found for them in a particular school of their own choice.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, this is happening. I understood people had made the Minister aware of the position. We are told that all education is not bishop-centred, or parent-centred, but child-centred.
Hear, hear.
If that is so, is what is happening in accord with policy? Children are being debarred from schools and the only reason is that they have not got the academic brilliance to move on. I hope the Minister will make these schools aware of his feelings in the matter. This should not be happening.
Could I ask whether the Minister takes any steps to ensure by consultation with secondary schools which have preparatory divisions that these schools leave room in their secondary tops for children from other schools in the neighbourhood and are not excluding these children in order to keep the secondary top confined to their own pupils?
That is the opposite to what Deputy Tunney has asked.
The opposite?
The case I make here is that no child is denied post-primary education who wishes to have it.
That does not answer the question at all.
Lest it will be thought that Deputy FitzGerald was at one with me on this—and it would appear that he is not——
That would be deadly.
——what I am concerned about is students who have been attending a primary school and who, as I see it, have the first right to promotion within that school if they desire it. They should not be evicted to make room for other more brilliant students from other primary schools.
I apologise to Deputy Tunney. I thought he was concerned, as I am, about children from national schools being excluded from these secondary schools.
Arising from Deputy Tunney's, in my opinion, very relevant and valid question—and I must apologise for the exchanges on the last question which, to some extent, obliterated the Minister's reply—would the Minister not admit that Deputy Tunney is perfectly correct in saying that a form of selectivity is being exercised by many schools in Dublin in this way? Would the Minister not agree that a pupil who has enrolled and served his time in the primary section of a school which has a secondary section has a right to believe that his future education is guaranteed and that he has not got to shop around to other local schools which are already overcrowded?
I would hope that would be so.
I can take it that it is only this party that is concerned about the room being provided in these schools for children from national schools?
(Interruptions.)
Deputy FitzGerald does not know what we are talking about.
Only too well I know.
The pupils referred to by Deputy Tunney are national school pupils in a national school which has also a secondary school attached to it. Am I right?
Yes.
Primary school.
National school is good enough for me.